l^uWiraf Ions of f^p 3l-^^
HE township of Didsbury is situated about five
miles and a half south of Manchester and three
miles west of Stockport. Tt is bounded on the
north by Withington; on the south by the river
Mersey, which there divides the counties of Lan-
caster and Chester ; on the east by Burnage and Heaton Norris ;
and on the west by Chorlton-cum-Hardy and the Mersey, which
again separates it from the adjacent county of Chester. It is
the most southerly township in the parish of Manchester. Its
area has been computed by Messrs. Johnson at 1516 acres; the
Tithe Commissioners in the Census Returns of 1851 estimate it
1527 acres; the Ordnance Survey, 1552a. 2r. 21p.; and Hickman,
in the Census Returns of 1831, 1560 acres. It lies on the north
bank of the river, at a point where the stream is sufficiently
shallow to admit of passengers crossing from Didsbury to North-
enden; the river and the lands adjacent to the ford receiving
anciently the name of Didisford— an appellation still to be traced
after the lapse of nearly six hundred years in Ford Bank. Its
orthography, like that of other proper names in early times, was
very irregular and uncertain; and it is found variously written
Dedisbur', Didesbur', Diddesbir', Diddesburie, Diddesberye, Dyd-
desbury, Dyddysburye, Dyddusburye, Duddesbury, Ditesbery,
Dadsbury, Dizbury, &c., the latter syllable of the name signifying
■2 '■■'■'■ : ■• -A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
a fortress, or fortified town, of which the Saxon warrior, whose
name the earlier syllables express, was the proprietor or chief.
In the 33 Henry III. (1248) Matthew de Hathersage was found
in possession of the manor of Hathersage in Derbyshire, and also
of lands in Didsbury, Withington, &c., in the county of Lan-
caster. ^ These lands were held by subinfeudation from Robert de
Ferrars, Earl of Derby, who in 1260 did homage to the King and
received the seizin of his estates, which amounted to ^€3000 per
annum, including almost the entire lands of South Lancashire.
The coheiresses of Hathersage married Goushill of Barlborough
and Longford of Longford, both within the county of Derby,
about the latter end of the reign of Henry III. By Deed dated
the eve of St, John the Baptist, in the 44 Henry III. (1259), we
find that a partition of lands was then made between Sir Nigel
de Longford and Dame Maud Goushill, an apportionment, doubt-
less, of the Hathersage estates, which had now descended to the
female line by the recent death of Matthew de Hathersage, the
last heir male of the family .^
In the succeeding reign, that of Edward L, we find John de
Longeford claiming by inheritance free- warren &c. in the above
recited lands, and producing in support of his claim a charter
granted to his great grandfather, Matthew de Hathersage, by his
then Majesty King Henry III. An oath being taken of the Com-
missioners appointed to investigate the claim, it was decided that
the aforesaid John and his ancestors have been entitled to the
privileges contended for from the date of the charter submitted
for their inspection.^ After the disgrace of Robert de Ferrars
(') Calendarhim EotuJorum Chartanim, p. QQ.
(-) Foundations of Manchester, vol. iii. p. 125.
(^) Job'es de Langeforcl p'fert cartam d'ui H. Reg' p'ris d'ni Reg' nuc dat' anno
regni sui t'cesimo t'cio [1248] que testa"" q"* d'ns H. Rex cocessit cviidam Matheo de
Hatliershegg p'avo ip'ius Joh'is & h'edibus suis lib'am warenna in om'ibj d'uicis t'ris
Buis man'ior' suor' de Hathersbegg, Barleburgg, Kynwaldesmers' & Holan' in com'
Derb' & man'ior' suor' de Witinton & Diddesbir' in com' Lane' ita q'' nullus intret
t'ras illas ad fugand' in eis aut ad aliquod capiendo quod ad warenna p'tineat sine li-
ccncia & vobintatc ip'ius Mat-bei & b'edfi suor' sup' forisfac fara d'ni Reg' decern librar'.
PAROCHIAL CUArEL 01' DIDSBUUY. 3
and the confiscation of his estates, Didsbury, as a part of his I^an-
cashire possessions, was granted to the family of Grelle, from
whom it passed on the decease of the last Baron of tliat name in
1313 to the Wests, Lords De la Warre.
In a Survey of the extent of the manor of Manchester made in
1322 Didsbury is included in the lower bailiwick of the barony,
and is required to contribute towards the maintenance of the
lord's bailiff and his subordinates when occupied in the discharge
of their duties in the oversight of the manor; allusion is also
made therein to a fishery in the Mersey to the middle of the river
from Grimesbotham up to Ditesbery jNIoor, worth Gd. per annum.
From a Rental of Thomas West, Lord De la Warre, May 1st
1473, it appears that Nicholas Langforth Knt. holds the demesne
of Whithington and Diddesbury by the service of one knight's
fee of the said lord, a yearly rent of 9s. ; and for castle- ward (a
tax upon those residing within a certain distance of any castle
towards the maintenance of such as watch and ward the castle)
10s.
This relation between the superior lord and his tenant was
found to continue uninterrupted throughout the brief seignory
of John Lacy, who in 1578, after a seventeen years' possession of
the manor of Manchester, transferred it to Sir Nicholas INIosley,
citizen and alderman of London, a member of a family long lo-
cated in the neighbourhood, who thus added to his influence in
Didsbury as a landed proprietor by becoming also lord of the
manor, of which Didsbury was a member.
In a Deed executed sometime between the years 1260 and
Precepit eciam d'nus Rex p' se & h'edibus suis q-^ p'd'cus Matheus & h'edes sui in
p'petuu li'eaiit lib'am warenna in om'ibj d'uicis t'ris suis man'ior' p'dicor' ita q'^ nidi's
intret illas ad fugandu in eis ant ad aliquod capiend' q^ ad warennam p'tineat sine
licencia & voluntate ip'ius Mathei et h'edum suor' sup' forisfacfam d'ni Reg' decern
libr' sic' p' dictum est. Et die q'' Oliverus p' & an'cessor suns obiit in. seis" de p'dicta
warenna. Et dicit q"* ip'e eunde statum contiauavit &c. set inq'raf quo modo iisus
est &c. Jur' d'nt sup' sacr'm suu q"^ p'dictus Joh'es et an'cessores sui a temp'e con-
fecc'onis p'dicte carte debito modo usi sunt warenna sua in p'dictis man'iis Jo ip'e ad
p'sens inde sine die &;c. — Placita de Quo Warranto Rot., p. 377.
4 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
1280, relating to tlie Slade Hall estate in Rusholme, we have a
conveyance on the part of Thomas son of Geoffrey, son of Luke
of Manchester, of lands in Diddisford in this township ; the con-
veyance is to Jordan his brother, and the lands are described as
given to him by Geoffrey his father.
Meanwhile, by gradual subdivision, the lands of the township
passed into the possession of numerous smaller proprietors.
In the 4 Edward VI. (1550) John Kempe and Winifred his
wife prefer a claim which is resisted by William Penkythe clerk,
parson of Manchester, to a parcel of land called Arnewayes-
tottham, and the house thereon and two burgages, the whole
situated in Wythynton, Dyddesburye and Stockport.
From the Inquisition p.m. of Sir Edward Warren, eight years
later, it appears that he died seized of the manor of Wood-
plumpton &c., and of lands &c. in Didesbur'. He was son and
heir of Laurence Warren Esq. and Margaret his wife, daughter
of Sir Piers Legh of Lyme Knt,, and was knighted at Leith in
1544. He married Dorothy, daughter of Sir William Booth Knt.
In the 33 Elizabeth (1590) Alexander Barlow Esq., the re-
presentative of an ancient family in the adjacent township of
Ghorlton, contested with Sir Ralph Longford Knt. certain pri-
vileges connected with the digging of marl and peat on the moors
of Barlow and Didsbury. He was also lessee in 1566 of the
tithes of the township, which he held from the rapacious Warden
Herle. Other proprietors about this time were John Pickering
and Thomas Lockwood, who in 1583 held lands in Didsbury as
grantees of Nicholas Longford; William Bassett, who in 1588
pleaded in establishment of his claim to a messuage and lands in
Withington manor against Dennis Lache, John Cooper and others,
and in resistance of their encroachment on Dyddesbury Moor;
Lawrence Goodie r, who appeared in 1596 in the Duchy Court as
defendant in an action brought against him as the wrongful pos-
sessor of a messuage and lands in the township, and for intrusion
on certain land called Sandland and other specified lands in Dids-
bury ; he died in 1608. His Will was proved at Chester July 4th
rAROCllIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBL'RY. 5
in that year. He names his wife Margaret, his daughter Joan,
his brother Henry, and his grandson Henry.
Three years later we find Robert Goodier a plaintiff in the same
Court against Rowland Mosley Esq., the point at issue between
the two being an alleged intrusion on lauds in Moss Green in
Withington manor.
On the 27th of September 1604 Robert Goodyeare, described as
of jManchcstcr gent, complainant, exhibited his bill in Chancery
against Thomas Sorocold, &c. : That whereas one Ralph Sorocold
was possessed of goods &c. in the county of Lancaster, by his
last "Will dated Septembei', 35 Elizabeth (1592), he bequeathed
the same to his children, ten in number, and appointed his wife
Katharine and Thomas Sorocold his son and heir executors, the
said children being under age except Thomas, who proved the
Will. About six years after, she married one Thomas Goodyere
the complainant^s father, after which, the said Thomas her son
took the government of the said children. The said Thomas
Sorocold agreed to renounce his executorship to the said Thomas
Godyere, who made an Indenture dated 16th August, 39 Eliza-
beth (1596), between the said Thomas Goodyere and Katharine
his then wife of the first part ; John Sorocold, one of the children
of the said Ralph Sorocold the said testator, and John Bradshaw
and Margaret his wife, daughter of the said Ralph, and Ellen
Sorocold, daughter of the said Ralph, of the second part ; and the
said Thomas Sorocold the said other executor, and Katharine
Sorocold, Ann, William, ]\Iary, Ralph, Elizabeth and Sarah,
younger children of the said Ralph, and Edmund Prest^vich Esq.,
Robert Hide of Denton, Richard Midgeley, Richard ffoxe and
William Wood, friends and guardians of the said younger children
during their minority, of the third part. Katharine Goodyere
died and then her husband Thomas Goodyere.
On the 13th of February 1605-6 their son Robert Goodyere
and Ehzabeth his wife appeared before the Consistory Court at
Chester, and confessed that they were present at the clandestine
marriage of Biron Culcheth with Ellen Goodiere.
6 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
In 1578 Sir Edmund Traiford Knt. prosecuted Ralph Woods
and Hugh Gynney at Lancaster for trespass on Didsbury Moor ;
it does not however appear that the Traffords possessed any
greater interest in Didsbury than that of participating in the
rights, advantages and profits of the waste lands in the town-
ship. Of the family of Gynney or Yannes, long resident in the
township, many scattered and incidental allusions have reached
us. In 1673 one Mr. Yannes, minister of some adjacent cure,
preached at Didsbury Chapel, as appears from the Churchwardens'
accounts of that period ; and eight years after, Samuel Yannis of
Didsbury gent, marries Margaret Mainwaring of Warford. An
early Inquisition p.m. of Ingelramus de Gynes, dated in the reign
of Edward II., assigns to him lands &c. in Whitington, Asheton
and Lancaster ; from the similarity in name he is presumed to be
of the same family.
From the Inquisition p.m. of Sir Robert Lovell Knt., in the 44
Elizabeth (1601), we find him seized at his death of lands in Did-
desburie, Chorleton, Withington and Streitford. Sir Robert Lovell
was the eldest son of Gregory Lovell of JMerton in the county of
Surrey Esq., Cofiferer to the Queen's Household, by his second
wife Dorothy, daughter of Nicholas Green,
The family of Twyford occupied at an early period a degree of
prominency in the township in the ranks of substantial yeomen.
John Twyford of Didsbury, who describes himself as a yeoman,
makes his Will in January 1622. He names his wife Alice, his
sons John, Robert, Edward, Richard and Daniel, and his daugh-
ters Anne and Ellen. He appoints his wife and his son John to
execute his Will, and " would intreate my wor^i M"^ Anne Mosley
to be supervisor of the same." He held two other tenements in
the township on lease, besides that whereon he resided. The In-
ventory of his goods and chattels taken at his death amounted
to £171 16s. 8d.
In 1646 Richard Twyford of Didsbury yeoman, an adherent to
the royalist cause, compounded for his estate by the payment of
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 7
£44, as also did Robert Twyford gent,, whose estate was charged
with the payment of £45 15s. 4d. INIargaret, wife of Robert Twy-
ford of Didsbnry gent., was sister of John Radcliffe of Manchester
gent., whose Will was proved at Chester in 1647. The Rev.
Robert Twyford, curate of Didsbury in 1726, and his son and suc-
cessor, who died in 1795, were doubtless members of the same
family.
Didsbury seems to have warmly espoused the cause of Charles
I. in striking contrast to most of the other townships in Man-
chester parish, influenced probably by the counsels and example
of Sir Edward Mosley of the Hough, at whose house in Alport
the royalist general. Lord Strange, was lodged and entertained
during the memorable siege of Manchester in 1642. In the fol-
lowing year, on the retreat of the royalist party from Wigau after
their surrender of that town, we learn that a slight skirmish en-
sued at Didsbury, partaking more of the character of a personal
encounter. It is thus spoken of in a contemporary narrative :
" A certain tall young gentleman was constrained to force his way
at Didsbury near Manchester, when accompanying the retreat,
through the midst of forty clubmen, who laid at him with their
clubs and yet could not bring him to the dust.'' This young
man has never been satisfactorily identified ; a rumour prevailed
at the time that it was Charles II., but this was speedily dissi-
pated.^
In addition to the Twyfords the name of Robert Trevillian of
Didsbury yeoman also occurs in the annals of the township as
having paid in 1646 the sum of £50 for the redemption of his
estate; and earlier, in 1642, while yet the contest between the
King and the Parliament was undecided, we find the grave yard
of the Chapel selected as the burial place of several royalist ofii-
cers who had lost their lives in the siege. In 1745 too, in further
evidence of the like sympathy, the adherents of the proscribed
Stuarts met near Didsbury, and in the Register Book of the
Chapel, under the date December 10th 1745, the following entry
(') Civil War Tracts, Chetham series, p. 309.
8 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
occurs : " A poor man buried at Didsbury, found dead in Heaton
when y^ rebels past/^
In the 13 Elizabeth (1570) one Thomas Rudd entered an action
at Lancaster against Nicholas Longford and Adam Blomeley in
relation to a messuage and appurtenances in Didsbury^ called
the '^ Broad Oke/' at that time in his occupation, but whether as
owner or lessee does not appear. In 1655 John Hudd resided at
the Broad Oak, and was a ratepayer in the township; and it is
worthy of remark that there has been a continuous occupation of
the same premises by the Rudd family for upwards of three hun-
dred years, the present tenant Mr. John Rudd now holding it
under the Rev. Robert Mosley Fielden.
About the commencement of the last century a family named
Broome first settled in the township as stewards or law agents to
Sir John Bland ; they stood also in a like relation to the Barlows
of Barlow in Chorlton, and for several generations practised as
attorneys in Manchester, purchasing from time to time such lands
in Didsbury and the neighbourhood as the improvidence of the
two successive baronets, the Blands, compelled them to dispose
of. WiDiam Broome of Didsbury gent, married sometime before
March 24th 1749 Elizabeth, youngest sister of Captain James
Dawson, the hero of Shenstone's ballad of " Jemmy Dawson ;"
their eldest son and heir was William Broome of Didsbury Esq.,
a Justice of the Peace for the county of Lancaster, who died
without issue in 1810.^ The heiress married into the Fielden
family, and the estates are now vested in the Rev. Robert Mosley
Fielden.
Didsbury not only derived its name from one of its former in-
habitants, but it also lent its name to a family long resident
within its limits and perhaps not yet extinct. William de Dids-
bury witnesses the transfer of Birch Hall and its demesne from
the Hathersage family to Matthew de Birch about the middle of
the thirteenth century, and the name again occurs in a Deed of
the same period relating to the conveyance of certain lands in
{') Cheshire and Lancashire Historical Collector, vol. ii. p. 29.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 9
that part of the township anciently known as Ditldisford. John
Didsburic makes his Will August 28th 1G23, desiring to be buried
"in the churche or chappell yord at Didsburie." He leaves his
house and premises to his wife and eldest son, " she to have all
the romes on the north end of the house and my son the rest
upon the south end, and to be both of them at one fyre and to
fynd the fyre betwixt them." At a later period one John Dids-
bury was Chapel warden of Didsbury in 1701, and the name of
James Didsbury appears in the list in 1746.
Towards the east of the township and lying north-east of the
village of Didsbury is the White Hall estate, in the reign of Eliza-
beth held on lease by Sir Nicholas Mosley Knt., who by his Will
devised the same to his eldest son Rowland, subject however to an
annual payment of ^€20 to Anthony Mosley testator's second son,
and the further sum of ,€6 13s. 4d. to Margaret, only child of the
said Anthony Mosley. The name of the then owner is not given.
It is now the property of Lloyd Hesketh Bamford Hesketh
Esq.
Parr in this township, or, as it has been designated by modern
tautology, Parr's Wood, was known by this name before the year
1587. Its signification is a high or hilly place, a grove or wood,
a hill covered with wood, from the Anglo-Saxon hearo ; other
etymologists connect it with the verb beran (to bear, to bear
fruit), and take it to mean specially a wood that supplied mast for
fattening swine.
At the east of the toM^nship, where the Mersey forms the boun-
dary-line, is a tract of low land called, from its position, " Dids-
bury Eea;" the word ea in Anglo-Saxon signifying water. The
same designation is used in the neighbouring township of
Chorlton to indicate the low level of certain land bordering on
the river, the name Chorlton in that instance being substituted
for Didsbury.
In 1845 the number of landowners in the township was fifty-
two, of whom the following were the chief: —
c
10 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
A.
The Rev. Robert iMosley Fielding 516
James Heald Esq 184
Hesketh Lloyd Bamford Hesketh Esq 125
The Executors of the late Joseph Birley Esq. 63
George Withingtou Esq 51
John Atwood Beever Esq 49
Samuel Hampson Esq 44
Wilbraham Egerton Esq 38
John Daniel Souchay, Esq 31
Mr. Thomas Baxter 30
Mr. Matthew Bruudrett 30
Mr. Nathan Slater 24
Trustees of the Audenshaw School 21
Mr. Thomas Worthington 20
Trustees of the Wesleyan College 9
Trustees of the Didsbury School 7
Churchwardens of Didsbury 3
Roads and Waste, including the River
Mersey 58 1 16
Assuming the area of the township to be 1474 acres, it was thus
divided : arable land, 700 acres ; meadow and pasture land, 769
acres; buildings, 5 acres.
In the village of Didsbury is located one of the two theological
institutions established by the AVesleyans for the training of stu-
dents in preparation for the ministry ; (the other is at Richmond,
in Surrey.) It originated in the commemoration of the centenary
of Wesleyan Methodism, and the cost of its erection was defrayed
out of the centenary fund, a subscription of nearly a quarter of a
million sterling raised in 1839.
In 1840 ten acres of land were purchased in Didsbury, at the
rate of £200 per acre, and suitable buildings were erected thereon
at a further outlay of about £18,000. There was a handsome
stone mansion on the estate when purchased, — the residence at
R.
V.
3
8
3
34
0
29
1
0
1
12
3
19
0
22
0
32
2
38
2
27
1
5
1
25
1
39
1
3
0
16
2
12
1
0
rAROCIIIAL CHAI'Kl. OF DIDSBURY. 11
one time of the late Colonel Parker ; this was retained, and it now
forms the centre of the pile. Two retiring wings were added, the
whole forming three sides of a quadrangle. Accommodation is
provided for the governor and his family, and forty students, toge-
ther with a library and lecture and class rooms. Separated from
the college is the chapel, a neat brick building in the pointed style,
containing sittings for about three hundred persons, intended not
only for the institution but also for the inhabitants of the village.
On either side of the chapel are the residences of the theological
and classical tutors. The college was opened September 22nd
1842, when the Liturgy of the Church of England was read and a
sermon preached by the President of the Conference. The cost
of its maintenance is about £2,500 per annum.
The Wesleyans were not without their religious services at
Didsbury before the erection of the chapel just adverted to.
Upwards of thirty years ago they occupied a large room over a
wheelwright's shop for the purposes of public worship, in which
also they conducted a Sunday school. This room having become
too small a larger one was built about sixteen years since, which is
yet devoted to its original use.
The earliest Population Returns for Didsbury are in the year
1774, at which time the township included within its limits but 84
houses, tenanted by 86 families or 499 individuals. Of these, two
hundred and nine were under the age of 15; sixty-five above 50;
fifteen above 60 ; two above 70 ; seven above 80 ; and one exceed-
ing 90 years.
In 1801 the township contained 116 houses and 619 inhabitants.
In 1811 the inhabitants had increased to 738; in 1821 to 933;
houses 159, families 172, of whom 51 were engaged in agriculture,
107 in manufactures, and 14 otherwise employed ; in 1831 there
were 3 houses uninhabited and 181 occupied by 187 families, of
whom 81 were engaged in agriculture, 83 in manufactures, and 23
otherwise, — total population 1067; in 1841 there were 4 empty
houses, 2 building, and 234 occupied by a population of 1248; in
1851 there were 274 houses tenanted, 1 cmptV; and 6 building, —
total population 1449.
12 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
In 1655, 61 persons were rated to the relief of the poor Avithin
the township, amongst whom were Mr. Robert Twyford, Edward
Chorleton, James Birch, Colonel Birch, Mrs. Goodyeare, Sir
Edward Mosley, Widow Mosley, William Wood (parish clerk), his
widow, Thomas Blomeley (Bankes), Thomas Birch, Henry Ridinge,
Thomas Blomeley alias Kings, Mr. Levenshulme, John Rudd of
the Oak, &c. In 1854 the number of ratepayers in the township
was 383, and the total amount of rates collected £787 19s. lOd.
The gross annual value of property rated for the relief of the poor
was in the latter year £11,911 15s. 4d.
In 1692 the annual value of real property in the township as
assessed to the land tax was £245 9s. 2d. ; in 1815, as assessed to
the county rate £3,933; in 1829, £6,318; in 1841, £9,662; and
in 1853 £9,780. Didsbury is in the polling district of Manches-
ter, and in 1854 contained 62 county voters. There were in the
township in 1854 three public-houses and three beerhouses.
List of Roads belonging to the township of Didsbury, describing
their beginnings and endings, with the measurement thereof liable
to be repaired by statute duty, made November 7th 1795 : —
1. Highway Turnpike Road. Beginning at Cheadle Bridge and
ending at a stone set up on this side Withington Bridge ;
length 1 mile 2 quarters 433 yards.
2. Boulton Wood Gate Lane. Beginning at the Three Lane
Ends on the turnpike road, and ending at a stone set in
the hedge on this side Barlow's Gate ; length 426 yards.
3. Milngate Lane. Beginning at Thomas Whitelegg's on the
turnpike road, continued over Gatley Ford, and ending at
the commencement of Watry Lane; length 1 mile 311
yards.
4. Stenner Lane. Beginning at Duke's Hill, continued over
Northen Ford, and ending immediately over a culvert in
King's Lane; length 3 quarters 7 yards.
5. Car Brow Lane. Beginning at Crabb Croft's Gate and end-
ing at the Alder's Fender, near the Braddiley ; length 1
quarter 246 yards.
PAROCHIAL CUAI'KL OV DIDSBURY. 13
6. Barlow Moor Lane. Beginning at the Grey Horse public-
house and ending at a fence across the road behind Samuel
Mycock's house ; length 1 mile 1 quarter 88 yards.
7. Fogg Lane, Beginning at tlie fifth mile stone from Man-
chester and ending at a nicked oak near to Barcicroft Gate
in Burnage ; length 2 quarters 125 yards.
The above are all the roads belonging to the township of Dids-
bury lia!)le to be repaired with statute duty and composition ; all
other roads are repaired by tenure or occupation.
M. Q. Y.
Total Turnpike Road 1 3 433
Total Bye Roads 4 1323
Total miles 6 0 316
John Rudd. ") ^
' > Surveyors.
Thos. Wood, J
Didsbury Chapel is the most ancient of all the chapels in the
parish of Manchester, having been founded, as it is supposed,
about the year 1235. At first it was probably nothing more than
a private oratory limited to the use of the lord of the manor or
other influential persons who planned its erection, but increasing
in importance and size as permission was extended to the tenantry
and others to worship there until at length in 1352 it became a
parochial chapel. " In this year," according to Hollingworth, " a
commission was granted by Roger de Norbury, Bishop of Lich-
field, for the consecration of the chapel-yard of Didsbury within
the parish of Manchester, in order to the burial of such as died of
the pestilence in that hamlet and in neighbouring hamlets in the
chapel-yard there, because of their distance from the Parish
Church of Manchester."^ There is a local tradition that the ma-
' Chronicles of Manchester, p. 36. On the 30th of November 1823 an additional
plot of laud adjoining the chapel-yard was consecrated by the Bishop of Chester for
the interment of the dead. It was purchased of Robert Ficldcn Esq. after the rate
14 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
terials used in the erection of the first structure were the rercains
of an old church pulled down in St. Mary's Gate, INIanchester,
brought in the first instance to Withington Green and afterwards
removed to Didsbury; but as this is a claim shared also in com-
mon with the halls of Ordsall, Clayton and Traftbrd, which were
said to have been in part built from the old materials of Man^
Chester Church, it is little to be relied on except so far as possibly
justifying the inference that in material at least the early chapel
of Didsbury resembled the early church of Manchester, both
being composed of transverse beams of wood filled in with lath
and plaster, a style of building very generally adopted in the more
ancient chapels within Manchester parish, of which the only in-
stance now remaining is the chapel of Denton.
In 1620 Didsbury Chapel was entirely rebuilt of stone, a tower
being now probably first added. No faculty seems to have been
obtained for this rebuilding, nor can any deed be found relating
to the consecration of the earlier chapel which had given place to
this, or of the chapel-yard solemnly set apart in 1352, notwith-
standing a careful search in the Episcopal Registries of York,
Lichfield and Chester, and also in the Court of the Archdeaconry
of Richmond.
The style of architecture is that known as the Debased, thus
denominated from the general inferiority of design as compared
with the style which it immediately succeeded. The plan com-
prised a nave 45 feet by 34 feet 6 inches internal admeasurement,
a chancel 24 feet by 24 feet, and a tower at the western end, the
details throughout being extremely plain. The nave was divided
on either side into three bays, two of these being filled with plain
square-headed windows, exhibiting an almost total absence of
of l^d. the yard, or eighteen years' purchase, £50 being paid in addition, the estimated
value of two small cottages thereon ; the cost was defrayed by a subscription of £360
and a church-rate of 6d. in the poimd. Amongst those who assisted by their sub-
scriptions were Wilbraham Egerton Esq. £50, Robert Parker Esq. £40, Robert
Fielden Esq. £20, Joseph Birley Esq. £20, Francis Philips Esci. £20, WiUiam Wood
M.D. £20, Rev. Joseph Newton £20, Thomas Mottram Esq. £20, Messrs. Thomas
and James Borron £20.
I'AROCJIIAL CllAl'EL OV DlDblJURY. 15
ornamentation, the third bay towards the extreme west on the
north and south sides constituting the principal entrances to the
church. The chancel was lighted by two triplet windows of sin-
gularly inelegant design, placed one over the other, the centre
light arch-headed, and rising above the lateral. The roof of both
the nave and chancel was of more acute pitch than is usually found
in buildings of this period, and extended some distance beyond the
outer surface of the walls in what are termed dripping eaves. In
1770 the chancel was rebuilt, and in 1791 galleries were erected on
the north and south sides of the nave, a gallery having been pre-
viously erected at the west end, — particulars of which successive
alterations will be seen in the abstracts of faculties elsewhere given.
In 1855 the north-east, north-west, and south-east entrance doors
were closed, and one large entrance to the church made through
the tower at the west end. The church underwent a thorough
restoration, and considerable alterations were made both in the
internal and external appearance of it. In these alterations,
though of a somewhat earlier style than the edifice itself, the
details are correct in design, and in perfect keeping with the style
adopted. The outer walls have been re- cased with stone, the old
square windows removed, and their place supplied by others chiefly
pointed, and Tudor-arched, divided by mullions into three lights,
transomed, and the heads filled with perpendicular tracery of good
design, the principal as well as the subordinate lights cinquefoiled,
and the whole surrounded by a hood -moulding finished with a plain
return. Buttresses are placed at intervals against the walls, those
flanking the eastern gable and at the junction of the nave with the
chancel being carried up to the extreme edge of the parapet, and
terminating in octagonal pinnacles croeketted at the angles. The
windows of the chancel are of two and three lights, square-headed
and divided horizontally by a transom, the lights foliated in the
head. The east end of the chancel is lighted by a large Tudor-
arched window of five lights, cinquefoiled, the mullions carried
vertically through to the head, and transomed. This window is
filled with richlv stained "lass bv Wailes of Newcastle. In the
16 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
centre light of the upper tier is a figure of the Saviour^ and in the
side lights are figures of the four Evangelists, with the name in
black-letter characters at the foot of each. In the lower range the
centre light contains a representation of the crucifixion, with the
two Maries at the foot of the cross. In the side lights are figures
of four of the apostles — Sanctus Petrus, Sanctus Paulus, Sanctus
Jacobus major, Sanctus Thaddeus. Beneath the centre light is
the incription in black-letter : — " This window presented by John
Moss, Joseph Bull, and William Hobbs ;" and below this, cut in
the masonry, + Anno Salutis MDCCCLVI. W. J. Kidd, clerk
rector ; John Moss, Joseph Bull, ch. wds.
Surmounting the apex of the eastern gable is a floriated cross.
The tower is of three stories, supported by diagonal buttresses of
five stages, with sloped set-ofi^s. The basement story now forms
the principal entrance to the church ; the doorway has a depressed
four-centred arch within a square hood-moulding, finished with a
plain return, and the spandrels filled with carved foliage ; the
jambs consist of a single round and hollow moulding, continued
round the head without a break. Above this and separated from
it by a moulding is the room appropriated to the ringers, lighted
on the west side by a Tudor-arched window of four lights, cinque-
foiled, and the head filled with perpendicular tracery. This win-
dow as well as the doorway of the tower have been added during
the alterations already noticed. The upper story contains the
bells, and is lighted on each side by a plain pointed window of two
lights fitted with louvre-boards. The parapet is embattled, pierced
with small semicircular openings, and beneath is a hollow cornice
moulding. Surmounting each angle is a crocketted pinnacle ; and
smaller pinnacles of the same character rise from the middle of
each parapet. On the east side of the tower is the date 1620, and
the letters W. R., probably the initials of the builder, and on a
stone on the north side is the inscription : —
S" EM : FOVN
AM. WID:DERS
EM:ESQ:S''GB:K<>&...
#
PATRON : BARONET
16
AN O 20
PAROCHIAL ClIATEL OF DIDSIJUKY. 17
A clock is placed on the cast side of the tower, immediately under
the parapet.
From a ground plan of the chapel, as it appeared about this
time, we find the nave divided into a centre and side aisles, the
whole filled with pews or benches ; an avenue running from west
to east divided the centre into two compartments ; the pulpit and
reading desk occupy the space of two or three beaches in the
northern division of the central compartment, within two yards of
the chancel. The two entrances, north-west and south-west, were
placed immediately opposite each other, and an avenue communi-
cated across the chapel from door to door. At the eastern ex-
tremity of the north aisle where the nave and chancel join is a
clear space of nine feet by six feet, marked the " Barlow Chappel,"
the occasional burial place of the Barlows of Barlow, an influen-
tial Roman Catholic family residing in the adjacent township of
Chorlton, whose more customary place of interment however was
the Collegiate Church of Manchester. Before the Reformation it
is probable that this private chapel in Didsbury Church was more
generally availed of by the family both for the purposes of divine
service and also of sepulture. The chancel, twenty-four feet
square, contained on the south side three pews or benches in con-
tinuation of those in the nave, and of corresponding size. In the
south-east corner is a space nine feet square, marked on the plan
" Mosley's Chapel,^' occupying more than a third of the east wall
and pushing the communion table from its usual central position
towards the opposite corner. The entrance to the chancel was by
a door penetrating the south wall between the Mosley Chapel and
the three pews already alluded to. It is interesting thus to de-
termine the precise apportionment to the Mosleys and Barlows in
the Didsbury Chapel of old time, especially since there exists
nothing even traditional respecting it. In the case of the former,
it will be seen that the monuments erected to the memory of the
various members of the family were all placed within the precincts
of their own private chapel. The other benches bear no names,
D
18 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
nor is any place assigned to the font. In the interior of the
church, as it now appears, the aisles are separated from the nave
on either side by three semicircular arches supported by plain
cylindrical shafts. Before the year 1770 the aisles did not extend
beyond the nave, but at that time the chancel was enlarged and
the aisles continued the entire length of the building ; from the
chancel they are separated on either side by two depressed four-
centred arches resting upon octagonal columns with moulded
capitals and bases. The roof of the nave is of timber- work, open to
the ridge, and of plain design, the frame-work consisting of hori-
zontal tie-beams resting upon vertical wall-pieces and strength-
ened beneath by curved bracing -ribs springing from plain corbels;
king-posts rise from the centre of each tie-beam and are carried
up to the ridge-piece; these, as also the struts which support
the purlins and principal rafters, have their edges chamfered.
The chancel roof is also of timber-work, but differing somewhat
in design from that of the nave; the walls are connected by
bracing- ribs springing from corbels supporting collars on which
the purlins rest. The chancel is separated from the nave by an
obtuse angled arch supported by corbels, and underneath this
are placed the pulpit and reading desk, the former of oak enriched
with carving in the Arabesque style, and probably of the same
date as the building itself.
The particulars of successive alterations under the influence
of which during the past century the chapel has lost many of its
original features, may be gleaned from the following abstracts of
Faculties :
1751, December 9th. Faculty granted to William Twyford
clerk, curate of Didsbury, James Bayley Esq. the younger and
Richard Broome and William Broome gentlemen, owners of cer-
tain messuages and estates within the said chapelry, to erect at
their own expenses a loft or gallery at the west end of the chapel,
in length thirty-four feet, in breadth or depth from the west waU
eastwards thirteen feet seven inches, with a convenient staircase
rAROCIIIAL CIlArEL OF DIDSBUllY. 19
to lead tliereto from the outside of and through the west cud wall
of the said chapel if that may safely be done. To assign and dispose
of the pews therein to themselves and such other inhabitants of
or owners of messuages and estates within the said ehapclry as
stand in need of seats or pews, and will pay for them not only
their rateable shares of the whole expense in and about the erec-
tion of the said gallery, but also certain reasonable annual rents
as shall be agreed upon amongst them, to be paid to the minister
of the said chapel for the time being.
1757, September 15th. Faculty granted to the Rev. William
TAvyford clerk, curate of the chapel of Didsbury, to erect a gal-
lery on the south side of the aforesaid chapel, in length sixteen
feet, in breadth nine feet; to dispose of the seats therein to the
inhabitants of the said chapelry for the profit and advantage of
the said William Twyford and his successors, curates of the said
chapel.
1770, August 10th. Faculty to rebuild the chancel.
Samuel Peploe clerk, Doctor of Laws, Vicar General, to our
beloved in Christ Anne Bland spinster, the patroness of the chapel
of Didsbury in the county of Lancaster and diocese of Chester, and
William Broome Esq. of Didsbury aforesaid, the owner and pro-
prietor of divers messuages and tenements and lands situate in
the chapelry of Didsbury aforesaid, greeting : Whereas upon re-
presentation made to us that the chancel of the chapel of Dids-
bury aforesaid was very old, ruinous and decayed, and that the
pews, stalls and seats in the said chapel and chancel were very
old, irregular and decayed, and not conveniently capable of hold-
ing the inhabitants ; and that the said Anne Bland and William
Broome were desirous to take down and remove the said old
chancel and the pews, stalls and seats therein, and to build a
larger chancel with a gallery or galleries, and new, regular and
uniform seats or pews therein, in the room of the said old chancel
and on part of the yard of the said chapel, by taking in eight feet
on the north and also eight feet on the south side thereof, so as
20 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
to make the said intended new chancel of the same breadth or
width with the nave or body of the said chapel, and to sell and
dispose of the new pews and seats in the said intended new
chancel at reasonable rates to and among the inhabitants of the
said chapelry, reserving a certain chief-rent or sum of money to
be paid yearly for each of those said new seats and pews to the
minister or curate of the said chapel for the time being to and for
his own use and benefit, and to build a vestry on the south side of
the communion table and a staircase and stairs on the north side
thereof to lead to the said gallery or galleries, and also to remove
and take away the said old pews, stalls and seats in the said
chapel, and in the room thereof to build new, handsome and con-
venient pews or seats all of one decent, regular and uniform order,
and that the same might be set to the inhabitants of the said
chapelry at certain reasonable rents, to be paid also to the minister
or curate of the said chapel yearly to and for his own use, better
support, and maintenance, — We did emit a general citation upon
Sunday the 23 day of July last for all persons professing to have a
right or interest in the said chapel or chancel to appear before us
or our lawful Surrogate upon Thursday the 27 day of July afore-
said ; and whereas no person appearing to show cause to the con-
trary, therefore we the said Vicar General grant unto you the said
Anne Bland and William Broome our commission and authority
to take down and remove tlie old chancel and the pews, stalls and
seats therein, and to build a larger and more convenient and hand-
somer chancel with a gallery or galleries, and to set and let such
new pews or seats to the inhabitants of the said chapelry at certain
reasonable rents or sums of money, to be paid and made payable
to the minister or curate of the said chapel yearly to and for his
own use and better support and maintenance, for the use of them-
selves and their families, all others excluded without their leave
first had and obtained to use the same ; willing and requiring you
that so soon as you shall have fully executed the commission you
return to us a full certificate thereof, together with a chart or
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 21
plan of the seats or pews built anew in the said chancel, chapel
and gallery or galleries respectively, and the names of the respec-
tive inhabitants to whom you have allotted and disposed of the
same, and the respective rents or sums payable for the same to
the minister or curate of the said chapel for the time being, by
virtue of your allotment or disposition thereof, in order for our
future approbation and confii'mation thereof, and together also
with these presents. Dated at Chester the 10 day of August in
the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy.
H. Speed,
Dep. Reg^
The next step was the erection of a north gallery from the
front of the west gallery to the east window, and of a south
gallery extending from j\Ir. Twyford's gallery to the east win-
dow of the chancel — both erected at the same time, during
the incumbency of the Rev. John Newton, about twenty years
after the rebuilding of the chancel, and both erected without
Faculty.
1841, July 1st. Faculty granted to the Rev. William John
Kidd, incumbent, John Thorniley and John Ogden, wardens,
Joseph Birley, George Withington, Robert Gladstone, Hugh
Birley junr., and Hartley Packer Gisborne, pew-owners and ley-
payers of the said chapelry ; to pull down the north and south side
walls from the tower to the chancel, which are now three feet and
a half thick, and to rebuild them of a thickness of two feet only ;
and to allot to every person now in possession of a pew a pew of
the same dimensions (if practicable), liable to the same rent and
other payments as those given in exchange, the rent to be in-
creased or diminished in proportion to the smaller or larger space
given; also to appropriate the pews of the side aisle to the poor;
a pew each to be provided (not subject to any annual rent or pay-
ment) for the minister, wardens, singers, and the font. It was
estimated that the present accommodation was limited to five hun-
dred sittings, none of which were free, and it was expected that
22 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
such alterations as now proposed would secure about two hundred
and fifty additional sittings.
1855, July 31st. Faculty granted to the Rev. William John
Kidd clerk, rector of Didsbury, Joseph Bull and John Moss
churchwardens ; to remove the north-east and south-east staircases
to galleries ; to close the north-east and south-east entrance doors,
and to erect additional pews on the area now occupied by them ;
to make one large entrance to the church through the tower at the
west end, carrying staircases to the galleries from the west end
inside the tower ; to remove a portion of three pews in the south
gallery, and of two pews in the north gallery, so as to obtain a
passage along each gallery, and to widen the open space over the
communion table; to case the outside walls of the church with
stone, the tower excepted; to raise the roof over the north and
south galleries, and to improve the ventilation, which will include
some alteration in the windows ; to remove two monuments from
the eastern wall, and to place them, one on the south pillar and
the other on the north pillar of the chancel arch ; to remove the
font from under the tower to the south-west corner of the body of
the church near the entrance porch. The alterations sanctioned
by the above abstracted faculty were carried into eflFect (with the
exception of the clause relating to the monuments, — these were
allowed to remain on the east wall) at a cost of .€1,600.
The church contains several monuments, but with the exception
of that to the memory of Sir Nicholas Mosley they do not call for
any particular notice. The monument in question is attached to
the east wall in that part of the chancel which was formerly known
as the Mosley Chapel. It is a heavy columnar structure of two
stages ; the lower, of three compartments divided by Ionic columns ;
the upper, of one compartment flanked by columns supporting a
frieze or entablature, which is surmounted by an ornament in the
heavy Tudor style, enclosing a heraldic shield blazoning the family
arms. The centre compartment of the lower stage is square in
form, framed in mouldings ; but the two lateral compartments in
this, and the upper stage are circular-headed arches with decorated
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY.
23
architraves in colours. Ou the cornice of the lower stage, over
each lateral compartment, is placed a large oval, like a glass mirror,
the frame of reddish marble, the inside coloured blue, each charged
with the arms of Sir Nicholas, the one shield impaling those of
his first wife, — arg. a lion rampant gu. ; the other those of his
24 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
second, — gu. a chess-rook arg. on a chief arg. three roses gu.
The upper arch is filled with a full-length figure of Sir Nicholas
himself in his robes of office as Lord Mayor of London, a scarlet
cloak edged with ermine ; he wears a black skull-cap bordered with
white ; and looks a grave and reverend man with bushy beard.
The two lateral arches of the lower stage also contain a figure
each : that to the spectator's left, of a lady in long blue cloak,
white petticoat and Elizabethan rufl', kneeling on a crimson cushion,
her hands joined and raised in prayer; that to the spectator's right
of a lady in long blue cloak and rufl", kneeling and praying ; these
representing the two wives of Sir Nicholas. The centre compart-
ment of this stage represents four male figures kneeling; the
eldest, of mature years, bearded ; the other three, youths of dif-
ferent ages. All the figures in the monument present the right
profile. The monument is chiefly of marble and Derbyshire
marble, spar and alabaster. The two outer columns of the lower
stage are of blue dove marble, and on the cornice above them are
placed two pyramidal obelisk-like ornaments, on feet. The whole
monument appears to rest on four wall-brackets. The four cen-
tral columns, above and below, are of Derbyshire spar. There
are several inscriptions on the entablatures, and on the tablets
beneath the three lower compartments ; they are as follow : —
"This is in memory of Sir Nicholas Mosley Knt. sometyme
Lord Mayor of London, who dyed the 12 day of December,
1612, of y® age of 85, and lyeth here interred.''
"Margaret Whitbroke, his P* wife, by whom he had 6 sons and
2 daughters."
" Elizabeth, his second wife, at whose cost this monument was
erected, dyed without issue."
Other inscriptions of a later date follow : —
1. "Rowland Mosley Esq. sonne and heyre of Sr. Nicholas,
first married Anne Houghton, by whom he had issue a son
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY, 25
and daughter : After, the aforesaid Rowland married Anne
Sutton, one of the co-heiresses of Sutton, by whom he had
issue Edward, his son and heyrc, and Ann his daughter,
yet living ; and he died 23d. Feby. 1616, and lieth here
interred.'^
2. " Anthony Mosley his second son yet living/'
3. " Sir Edward Mosley Knt. his youngest son, Atty. Gen^. of
the Dutchy of Lancaster now living at Rolleston in Staf-
fordshire/'
At the east end of the chancel near to Sir Nicholas Mosley' s
monument is a tablet to the memory of the Dowager Lady Ann
Bland, with this inscription : —
Here lyes y^ Body of Ann Lady Dowager Bland
Sole Daughter & Heiress of S^ Edward Mosley
Of Hulme Knt. — She married S^ Iohn Bland
Of Kippax Park in y^ County of York Bart.
To whom She brought a plentifuU Estate
In this Neighbourhood & by Whom She had
A numerous Issue, though None of Them surviv'd Her
Except a Daughter Meeiell, married to
Hildebrand Iacob Esq.
& Sir Iohn Bland of Kippax Park and Hulme Bart.
Who erected This Monument in Memory of
One of the best of Women, Anno 1736.
Surmounting the inscription is a lozenge bearing the arms of
Bland, — Ar. on a bend sa. three pheons of the field, in chief the
badge of Ulster, — impaling quarterly for Mosley, 1 and 4 sa. a
chevron between three mill-picks arg. : 2 and 3, or, a fess between
three eagles displayed sa. — On an escutcheon of pretence sa. a
chevron between three mill-picks arg.
On the same wall, at the north side of the chancel window, is a
monument to the memory of Sir John Bland : —
E
36 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Near this
Monument is interred
the Body of Sr. John Bland
of Kippax Park in y® County of York
Barrt. who died OctK 25. 1715 Aged 52.
He married Ann the Daughter and sole
Heiress of Sir Edward Mosley of Hulme
near Manchester in this County Knight by
whom he had Issue nine Children viz. Jane^
Ann, Meriel, Elizabeth, Mosley y^ first son,
Mosley y^ second, John y^ third (who succeed-
ed his father in Honour and Estate) & Edward
the fourth ; the other three died Infants and
were buried here, as was Frances another
Daughter, who died Augs<^ the 31^^ 1712 in y®
X7th year of her age.
Also John, son of Thomas Davison of Blak-
iston in y^ County of Durham Esq. by y^ aforesd,
Ann daughter to S''. John Bland.
Memorise
Optimi Mariti et Patris dicta Anna Vidua moestissima
Hoc Monumentum
Posuit
Et Luctui et Cultui
Sacrum.
On the base of this same monument is inscribed : — " Near this
Place also lye y® Bodies of y^ abovenamed S''. Edward Mosley
Knight, and Meriel his wife ; He was y^ second son of Oswald
Mosley of Ancoats in this County, Esq. & died July 25. 1695 aged
77. And she was the Daughter of Richard Saltonstall late of
Huntwick in y^ County of York Esq. & died July y^ 8. 1697 aged
63. In y** same Place is also buried Sr. Edward Mosley of Hough-
end in this County Barrt. who married Katharine, Daughter of
William Lord Gray of Wark & dyeing without Issue left his
Estate to y^ aforesaid Sir Edward Mosley."
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 27
In addition to the inscription is a shield charged with the arms
of Bland, impaling those of Mosloy.
A plain marble slab in the chancel bears the following :
S.M
of
Robert Fielden Esq.
many years a resident in this parish
& an active Magistrate of the Counties of Lancaster «Sj Chester
who departed this life on the 6t^> day of September 1830,
aged 69 years.
Also of Ann his wife
eldest daughter of Sir John Parker Mosley
of Rolleston Park in the County of Stafford Bart.
who departed this life on the 27*^ day of March 1810,
aged 47 years.
Also Sarah his second wife who died on23''d day of Jany 1850, aged 84.
"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord :
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest
from their labours ; and their works do follow them.'^
14 Chap. Rev. 13 ver.
Superadded to the inscription is a shield bearing the arms of
Fielden : arg. on a fess azure three lozenges or, impaling (for
Mosley) sa. a chevron between three mill-picks arg. Crest : a
blackbird sitting upon an oak slip acorned ppr.
Another monument commemorates a former incumbent of the
chapel :
In memory of
the Reverend John Newton M.A.
Patron & Incumbent of this Church
where he officiated for more than 15 years
and was beloved by a numerous congregation.
He died September 16. 1807
in the 46*^ year of his age.
28 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Also
Elizabeth Newton
Widow of the late Rev^ John Newton
who died March 23. 1832
in the 69*^^ year of her age.
Also their Son
the Reyd Joseph Newton M.A.
who died April lltt 1832
in the 36'^ year of his age.
On the north wall is a plain marble tablet thus inscribed :
i^ear ti^ts place
are interred the Remains of
James Bayley of Gorton, who
departed this life June 10. 1778
aged 45 years.
Also Esther his Wife who
departed this life Dec^" 7. 1807
aged 80 years.
Near to the above is another tablet bearing a shield charged
with the arms of Briarly (in colours), borne quarterly ; 1 and 4,
or a cross potent gu. ; 2 and 3, azure on a chevron between three
stags or, three roses (or cinquefoils) gu. ; impaling, arg. a chevron
between three cross crosslets sa. Crest : a lamb and flag. Motto :
Crux Coronae Fulcrum. The slab is inscribed :
Near this place
lies interred the Remains
of Thos Briarly Gent^^
who departed
this life Sep-- 5. 1776
aged 63,
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY.
29
On the same wall is a large square tablet of white marble bear-
ing the following inscription :
Omnes una nianet nox
Et calcanda semel via lethi. Hor.
Sacred to the Memory of
William Broome Esq. their eldest
Will" Broome Gent.
Son, one of his Majesty's justices of
Whose remains were interr'd
the Peace for this County ; he died
March 30. 178L aged 68 Years.
sincerely regretted Aug* 13"*
Also EHzabeth his wife
1810 aged 55 years.
interred Feb'' 6. 1764.
Also
James Broome their Second Son
the remains of
interred Aug' 13. 1800
Mary Broome relict
aged 42 years.
of the above William Broome Esq.
John Broome their youngest Son
She died Jan^ 18. 1815
interred FeV 18. 1787
aged 59 Years.
aged 27 Years.
Reader, whose eyes this marble view,
Learn to be wise ; nor fleeting hopes pursue.
Life is an ev'ning breeze, a murmuring breath.
That blows till Sunset, then grows calm in death.
There is one other monument on the south wall to the memory
of Elizabeth^ only child of Thomas and Elizabeth Radford^ who
died May 7. 1833.
The chapel of Didsbury, as already stated, is the next most
ancient ecclesiastical foundation in INIanchester parish after the
Collegiate Churchy or Cathedral^ as it is now called. It differed
from all the other chapels in the parish, with perhaps the single
exception of Newton, in having been from very early times in-
vested with a certain independent jurisdiction, owning indeed
subordination to the parent church of Manchester, but with a
freedom from control not appertaining to the rest of the chapels,
which were but chapels of ease, — a district being assigned to it in
30 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
which the resident curate had exclusive authority ; being in fact,
though a part of the parish of Manchester, a parochial chapel, or
reputed parish of itself.
It is dedicated to St. James, as far as can now be ascertained,
and is thus styled in the latest Faculty obtained for its re-
storation, though by the Rev. Canon Raines it has been com-
mitted to the guardianship of St. John. One argument in favour
of the earlier supposition is founded on the fact that the village
rush-bearing is held on the 5th of August, which answers to the
25th of July old style, or St. James's Day, and the wake is held
the Sunday following and the two or three succeeding days, — a
coincidence not accidental, but illustrative, of that close connexion
which is found always to subsist between that annual festival and
the patron saint's day, village wakes being the anniversary of the
consecration of the church, nigh to which the wakes are held, the
church itself uniformly receiving consecration on the day of the
saint to whom it was dedicated. If this conjecture be well-founded,
it is not a little remarkable that three other of the more ancient
chapels in Manchester parish are dedicated to the same saint,
namely Birch, Gorton and Denton.
Its subordination to Manchester Church is shewn in the pay-
ment of tithe to the Warden and Fellows as rectors of the entire
parish. In 1701 the tithes of Didsbury township were leased
by the Warden and Fellows to Mr. Thomas Wood for the sum of
j633 10s. per annum. Withington and Burnage, in the chapelry
district, are classed together, and the tithes from the two town-
ships, leased to Mr. W. Birch, produced to the Warden and
Fellows in that year .£32 ; the tithes of Heaton Norris (in part
within the chapelry limits) were leased to Mr. H. Hulme for £50
per annum; — making a total of ^61 15 10s. In 1848 the rent-
charge payable to the Dean and Chapter of Manchester in lieu of
tithes over the same area was, — Didsbury, ^149 (besides 17s. 3d.
payable to the Rev. R. M. Mosley the impropriator) ; Burnage,
^72 10s.; Withington, J115 (and J20 9s. to the impropriator);
and Heaton Norris, £286 10s. ; — in all, £644 6s. 3d.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY.
:u
lu 1573 iuj unctions ^vel•c given to the Warden of Mancliester
by the Archbishop of York and the Queen's Commissioners for
causes ecclesiastical within the province of York, respecting the
more strict residence of the Warden and Fellows and diligent and
constant preaching every Sunday in the church of Manchester, or
in one of the chapels of Stretford, Chorlton, Didsbury, Gorton,
Denton, Newton or Blackley.*
The more ancient limits of the district assigned to the chapel
Avere doubtless of wide extent, embracing the townships of Dids-
bury, Withington, Buruage, part of Hcaton Norris, llusholme and
Chorlton ; and it is interesting to trace the gradual development
of the parochial system in Didsbury, as shewn by the repeated
subdivisions into which that extensive district has been partitioned
in order to meet the requirements of a gradually increasing
population. Didsbury Chapel is venerable not only from its
antiquity but also as the progenitor of descendants so many in
number and so prosperous :
Didsbury Chapel,
erected about the year
1235.
Chorlton Chapel,
erected before
155S.
Birch Chapel,
erected in
1579-95.
Heaton Norris Chapel,
erected in
1765.
Trinity Church,
Rusholme,
erected in
1846.
St. John's,
Longsight,
erected in
1846.
Christ Church,
Heaton Norris,
erected in
1846.
St. John's Church,
Heatun Blersey,
erected in
1850.
St. Paul's,
Withington,
erected in
1841.
Burnage:
Room licensed in 1853,
nucleus of a Church.
Barlow Moor
School,
licensed in
1852,
nucleus of
a Church.
Levenshulme:
Room licensed in 1854,
nucleus of a Church.
Reddish:
Room licensed in 1855,
nucleus of a Church.
The population within the limits of the parochial chapelry,
numbering in 1704 about 540 souls, now exceeds 19,000.
In 1650 an Inquisition was taken at Manchester before cer-
tain Commissioners under the great seal of England. The object
contemplated by the commission was the readjustment of ecclesi-
' Hollingworth's Chronicles of Manchester, p. 83.
32 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
astical districts. It was recommended that Heaton Norris havino-
no parsonage or vicarage, nor any spiritual benefice, and being
seven miles distant from the Parish Church of Manchester, should
be severed from Didsbury and united with Reddish, and that these
two should be formed into a separate parish, and that a church
should be erected for their accommodation: this was not then
carried into effect. The Commissioners assert moreover that " in
the township of Wythington are the four chapels of Diddesbury,
Birch, Chorleton and Denton, which chapels are fit to be made a
distinct parish;" i— in this assertion they are so far incorrect as
to confound the word township with manor ; not one of the four
chapels indicated is within the limits of the township, though all
situated within the manor of Withington.
The erection of the chapels of Chorlton and Birch, the latter in
the reign of Elizabeth and the former some years earlier, had di-
minished considerably the extent of territory over which Didsbury
Chapel and its resident Curate exercised jurisdiction; though
perhaps of Birch it may be affirmed that it was never more than
a private chapel appended to the hall of that name.
In 1658 the townships of Didsbury, Withington, Burnage,
and part of Heaton Norris, comprised the whole district included
within the limits of the parochial chapelry of Didsbury, which
disposition continued unchanged till the year 1765, when the
suggestion of the parliamentary commission of 1650 was acted
on, and Heaton Norris severed from Didsbury. No further alter-
ation took place for nearly a hundred years. In 1841 the sever-
ance of Withington and Burnage was efi'ected, when Didsbury
township alone remained of the once far- spreading ecclesiastical
district appertaining to this ancient chapel.
The present boundaries are as follows : A line commencing at
the eastern end of Fog Lane and proceeding westerly along the
middle of that lane as far as the road leading to Manchester from
Didsbury, crossing over the road into Lapwing Hall Lane and
proceeding up the middle of Lapwing Hall Lane as far as Burton
' Lamb. 3ISS. fo. 196.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 33
Farm Lane; thence southerly along the middle of that lane to
the boundary of the township of Didsbury ; thence following
westerly the boundary-line separating the township of Didsbury
from the township of Withington until they reach the township
of Chorlton-cum-Hardy ; thence proceeding in a southerly and
westerly^ again southerly and easterly direction, along the boun-
dary-line separating the township of Didsbury from the township
of Chorlton-cum-Hardy to the point where they meet the boun-
dary-line of the parish of Northenden, Cheshire ; thence continued
along the boundary of the township of Didsbury and the said
parish of Northenden until it meets the township of Heaton
Norris; thence northerly as far as the township of Burnage at
Fog Lane, Avhere the said line commenced, including the two de-
tached portions of Burnage which lie one to the east and one to
the west of Burnage Lane and south of Fog Lane.
In 1850 Didsbury was returned as a district chapelry under
59 George III. cap. 134. The chapel was stated to contain five
hundred sittings, three hundred and eighty of which were appro-
priated and one hundred and twenty free.
It seems probable that at no distant time a further abridgment
of the ancient chapelry limits will be made. The schoolroom at
Barlow Moor has been licensed for divine service, and it is ex-
pected that a church will ultimately be built.
The earliest approach towards an endowment fund for Didsbury
Chapel we find at the close of the sixteenth century. It consisted
of " stock" contributed at diflerent periods and by diflerent indivi-
duals, the interest of which was applied to the support of a curate,
and though of small amount this constituted the only fixed and
settled income of the resident minister, aided perhaps at times, as
exigency might suggest, by voluntary offerings on the part of the
inhabitants. In 1613 John Twyford the chapelwarden and Robert
Brooke deposed that for the years 1610 and 1611 it was "agreed
by the consent of the better sort of the inhabitants of the
Chapelry, that Mr. By croft should have £17 a year for his wages
in serving that cure, to be gathered amongst the inhabitants and
F
34 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
made out of the stock of the chapel^ to be gathered and paj^ed to
the churchwardens, besides his provender oats." But small as
was this settled endowment, it was rendered scarcely less precari-
ous than the voluntary offerings which occasionally served to aug-
ment it, by reason of the bad faith of those to whom the money
had been lent ; for in the year 1652 there was a formal present-
ment made of all " such persons as have in their hands sums of
money paid towards the maintenance of a preaching minister at
Didsbury, for which they do neither pay the interest nor renew the
securities, though they have been called upon by us (the chapel-
wardens) thereunto/-' This list includes the names of no fewer
than fourteen persons who had out at interest chapel-stock in sums
varying from ten shillings to ten pounds, and for which they were
rendering no acknowledgment to the curate or chapelwardens.
The p'sentment of the Wardens of Didsburye of such p'sons as
have in their hands such somes of money as have been ,
p'sons, lost, towards the maintenance of a preaching minister at
Didsbury, for w'^'i they doe neither paye the interest nor renew
the securities thoe they have been called uppon by us thereunto.
Imprimis
1. John Blomeley alias Bancks, hath in his hand thirtie shil-
lings, for well yygg know not when hee payd any interest.
Edward Blomeley of Didsbury is bound vf^^ him for the
2. Item. Laurence Walker of Didsburie gent, hath in his hand
ffiftie shillings, the interest whereof hee hath not payd
many yeares, ffor w'^'i James Birch th'elder of Little-heath
and Edward Chorleton th'elder of Milgate in Didsburie is
bounde w^^^ him.
3. Itm. Alexander Walker th' elder of Didsburie hath in his
hands ffiftie shillings, the interest whereof hee hath not
payd many yeares, neither will renew his securities, his
formr securitie being dead, viz* George Chorleton of Eaton
Norris.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 85
4. Itm. Thomas Holme of Didsburic hath in his hands thirtie
shillings, for w*^^^' hcc hath not payd the interest for many
yeares, nor doth give new securitie, his old suertie Thomas
being dead.
5. Itm. William Whiteleg deceased of Eechill in y^ eounty of
Chester had in his hands shillings, noe interest
hath been payd for the same dead, but his se-
curitie William Blomeley ats
6. It. Edward Chorleton th' elder of the Mill in Didsburie hath
in his hands for W^^' hee hath payd noc interest
many yeares ; his suretie was Na . . . Woode of Didsburie
whoe is dead, his execuf is Alexand"" Wood
7. It. An Moseley of Didsbury vid. Administrat"^ of Edmund
Moseley decesed hath in her hands tenne shillings, for
w''^ noe interest payd many yeares.
8. It. Thomas Woode of Didsburie decesed had in his hand
ten shillings ; no body was bound w^'^ him ; his grandchild
William Woode of Didsburie enjoys his liveing, but for
ought wee knowe hee had neither execuf nor adminis-
tra?.
9. It. William Byrch of Lume decesed had in his hand twenty
shillings, William Byrch of Burnag decesed was bound
w*^ him ; wee knowe not the execuf^ of either, onely wee
are informed that William Byrch of the Lume and James
Byrch his sonnes enjoyed what was their fFather's.
10. It. Mr. John Davenport sometyme [? minister] of Didsburye
had in his hands ten pounds, for W^^^ William of
Didsbury deceased and Robert Birch of Didsbmy yet alive
were
11. It. Eichard Byrch of the Tythe-barn in Wythington hath
in his hands ten shillings, for w""^^ noe interest hath been
payd many yeares ; his suretie William Chorleton of
Didsburie is dead.
12. It. John Hampson of Eaton Norris and William Davie of
Wythington had in their hands ffive pownes but
36 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
his wife is liveing aud maryed to Alexander C . . . ; Wil-
liam Davie^ as we uuderstand^ lives at ... .
13.1 There are twoe other bonds Shalcross and Thomas
14. J * Shalcross of 32^^ . . . ; both dyed poore w^hout adminis-
traf^**. Th^other from James Barlow whoe is dead^ and
whose Barlow deceased likewise ; his executrix was
his daughter Mary Barlow
R . . . Frauncis Moseley
Wardens of Didsburye.
Two years earlier, in 1650, the endowment was found to consist
of a house and tenement for six years unexpired worth £10 per
annum, and j648 in stock, the interest of which was available for
the curate.
In 1606 Rowland Mosley of Hough End, Didsbury, Esq., eldest
son of Sir Nicholas Mosley Knt., made a further provision for its
endowment: — By an Indenture made the 12 day of August in
the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord James by the grace of
God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, that is to
say of England, France and Ireland the fourth, and of Scotland the
fortieth, between Rowland Mosley of the Hough within the county
of Lancaster Esquire on the one part, and George Chorlton son of
Edward Chorlton of the Hough End within the said county yeo-
man, John Heywood of Withington yeoman, Robert Walker son
of Alexander Walker of Didsbury yeoman, Alexander Wood son
of Alexander Wood of Didsbury yeoman, George Brooke son of
Thomas Brooke of Heaton AVood Green yeoman, Robert Hughes
son of Thomas Hughes of Didsbury yeoman, James Reddish of
Fallowfield yeoman, and Richard Hampson of Heaton Wood Green
yeoman, of the other part, — It was witnessed That the said Row-
land Mosley for the considerations hereafter expressed had set to
farm, let, and by these presents doth set and to farm let to them
the said George Chorlton &c. and their assigns all that messuage
or tenement with the appurtenances in Didsbury aforesaid, lying,
being and adjoining unto the chapel of Didsbury, now in the
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 37
tenure, holding or occupation of Thomas Pickering, together with
all houses, buildings, orchards, gardens, fields &c., and all profits,
easements and advantages to the said messuage belonging (the
great timber standing on the premises only excepted), to have and
to hold the said messuage &c. to them the said George Chorlton
&c. for and during the whole term of four score years, the same to
commence from and immediately after the decease of the said
Thomas Pickering now tenant of the premises for the term of his
natural life, to the uses, intents and purposes that they the said
George Chorlton &c. shall and will convert and employ the said
messuage and premises for the only good, profit, benefit and be-
hoof of such parson, minister, vicar, curate or incumbent of the
said chapel of Didsbur;^ for the time being as shall remain, con-
tinue and be parson by and with the consent and good-liking of
the said Rowland Mosley and his heirs, lords of the manor of
Withington, and of them the said George Chorlton &c. : And also
to the intent and purpose that during the time of vacation, cession
and avoidance of the said vicar, minister and curate, or after the
said dislike or dis-assent of the greater number of the persons be-
fore named of any such to be vicar, minister or curate there, then
they the said persons shall stand possessed of the premises to the
use of the successor that shall after be parson by and with the
liking and consent of the greater number of the persons before
named, to whom the said George Chorlton &c. shall be accountable
at the oversight and view of the said Eowland Mosley, — yielding
and paying therefor yearly nevertheless to the said Eowland Mos-
ley and his heirs from and after the decease of the said Thomas
Pickering, for and during the said term, the yearly rent of twelve
pence, and also yielding and paying after the decease of the parson
of the said chapel of Didsbury the best beast or good upon the
premises for and in the name of a heriot. The deed next prondes
for the election of trustees as vacancies occur, the same to be no-
minated by Rowland Mosley Esq. and his heirs, lords of the manor
of Withington. And it is likewise agreed for the consideration
aforesaid by and among all the said persons to this present, and
38 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
by and with the full consent of all the residents of and in the said
manor, of the said Rowland JNIosley his heirs and assigns and all
other that shall claim to be lords and owners of the said manor of
Withington from and after the commencement of the said lease to
begin and be in possession, that they and each of them shall be
discharged of all and singular yearly payments of sums of money
given or to be paid or given at any time after to the parson of the
said chapel of Didsbury for the time being.
The deed is signed by the several trustees named, and their
subscription witnessed by Nicholas Mosley, Rowland Mosley, Ed-
ward Chorlton, Richard Chorlton and George Chorlton.
Within six years of the execution of this deed Pickering sold
his life-interest in the estate to Sir Nicholas Mosley, and leaving
England with the intention of settling in Ireland was drowned,
as it is believed, on the voyage ; he was never more heard of. A
question therefore arose, difficult of solution, as to the period at
which the reversion of the tenement accrued to the chapel ; and
since nothing authentic was known of Pickering's death, and the
transfer of the estate had been made contingent on that event,
much difference of opinion prevailed as to the period also of its
restitution to the family of Mosley. In 1695 Sir John Bland
succeeded to the Mosley property, and about ten years afterwards
he claimed Pickering's tenement as his own by reason of the de-
termination of the eighty years specified in the lease. His claim
was thought premature and was resisted, and a long correspond-
ence ensued in which the Bishop of Chester (Gastrell) and Lady
Ann Bland were involved. The result is not given, but the chapel
does not appear to have derived any further benefit.
The first letter, dated " Didsbury, August 18th 1720," was writ-
ten by the curate of the chapel, the Rev. Thomas Wright, and
was addressed, "For the Rt. Rev. Father in God, Francis Lord
Bishop of Chester." It is as follows : —
My Lord,
In obedience to your command I have here sent my tes-
timonium signed by my neighbouring clergymen, who have known
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL 01' DIDSIiURY. 39
my life aud conversation ever since I was ordained^ and I hope I
shall always appear to your lordship to be the person I am there
represented. According to your lordship^s command I have all
along taken Mr. Shrigley's advice. Upon my last return from
Chester Mr. Shrigley advised me not to enter on Didsbury till my
Lady Bland's passion was a little abated, whereupon I omitted for
three Sundays. On Monday was scvennight Mr. Broome, steward
to the Lady Bland, told me that their counsel advised them not to
shew your lordship any more writings, nor give any further ac-
count, and told me I might take the chapel with what little be-
longed to it, and that your lordship might shew for the land if you
would have it. On Wednesday was sevennight my Lady Bland
told Mr. Birch of Birch that she had nothing at all to say against
me ; she bore me no ill-will, and for her part she could be as easy
with me as any other person, and if I entered at Didsbury I should
meet with no opposition from her ; but withal she must assert her
right as to the land. Mr. Shrigley being acquainted of these
things, and having heard from your lordship that no satisfaction
was given, he advised me to take possession of Didsbury, and ac-
cordingly I did on Sunday morning last, and had peaceable en-
trance ; there shewed my license, and discharged my duty. I
oflSciated in the morning at Didsbury, in the afternoon at Birch,
and shall so proceed until I have directions from your lordship.
As to the piece of ground called the Ogre, we have several evi-
dences to prove it was in the Church. I have sent the deposition
of one man only, who was butler to Sir Edward Mosley of Hous-
end [Hough's End] nigh Didsbury, who gave this Ogre to the
Church and gave his estate to the Lady Bland's father, who was a
relation at some distance, and the Lady Bland's father took it from
the Church again.
Deposition of Edward Worsley : — August 16, 1720. Then Ed-
ward Worsley of Withington declared, that when he was butler to
Sir Edward Mosley of the Housend he often heard his master. Sir
Edward, say that he had given the Ogre to the chapel of Didsbury,
but never heard him mention that he had given it for any limitation
40 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
of time, but for ever ; and he is ready to make oath of the same.
Declared in the presence of Thomas Wright.
Mr, Broome has declared that my Lady has nothing at all to
shew for the Ogre, and it is certain that she is at this time much
afraid. This next is a copy of a receipt which Mr. Broome gave
the tenant when he paid his rent for the church land after Sir
John Bland had taken it from the Church: — "Dec. 4>, 1710.
deceived of Titus Hulme ten pounds in full for rent of the church
lands due to Sir John Bland at Michaelmas last, hy me William
Broom. ^^ — I have several more dated before this, but worded
after the same manner. I have nothing more material at present.
I shall take all due care to observe your lordship's commands in
this affair, and whatever lies in the power of your lordship's most
obedient and dutiful son,
Thomas Wright.
The next letter is from the same to the same, written about two
months later, dated "Didsbury, October 14, 1720," and addressed
to the Bishop " at Christ Church in Oxford." It is as follows : —
My Lord,
With humble submission I beg leave to trouble your
lordship again with our affairs at Didsbury. I have here sent my
Lady Bland's letter to me [this is not now with the correspond-
ence] with a short account of some proceedings, that your lord-
ship may see how I am treated by my Lady Bland, her steward,
and her tenants. Her ladyship withholds her own contribution
and has forbid all her tenants for contributing under pain of her
displeasure, and by her steward Broome's daily bullying them
they dare neither contribute nor come to hear me, but some go to
other churches and several to the meeting-houses. Some of my
lady's tenants were contributors to me at Birch, and those her
steward has compelled to withdraw, and thereby have reduced our
small contribution there several pounds ; and they not only make
their own tenants withdraw, but they bias and persuade as many
other people as they can to withdraw too, and by their proceedings
I'AUOCllIAL CIIAI'KL OF DIDSBURY. 41
they fully design to starve a poor clergyman from liis duty, and by
thus using all the curates that your lordship shall license hither
they presently think to have the chapel again upon the same foot-
ing they had it before ; in short, my lord, the base usage I daily
meet with is not to be expressed. There are six or seven vile,
carnal, drunken wretches that are Broome's creatures, and these
men are constantly plotting how to be revenged on me and ray
family. They threaten to Hing me into prison for scandalising
the family with wronging the chapel of Didsbury, because I in-
formed your lordship by the depositions of the people. I am told
they design to draw up a petition to your lordship against me, full
of base, scandalous reflections, aspersing me as a vile, irregular
person. If they shovild I only desire I may be fairly heard before
your lordship to answer for myself, Tf they can charge me with
anything that is true I will fairly acknowledge it to your lordship,
humbly submitting myself to your lordship's will and pleasure in
every respect ; but if it appear that they should falsely accuse me
(as I doubt not but it will) I hope means may be used for their
correction. If your lordship please to send to Mr. Bolton of
Manchester he will give your lordship such a description and cha-
racter of these fellows as will excite your lordship to pity me or
any other poor clergyman who is sent amongst them. But what
can I expect from them who speak so slightingly of your lordship,
for not long since Mr, Shrigley was discoursing with Mr. Broome
about his and his companion's usage to me and the church, and
telling him that your lordship would resent it as done in contempt
to your lordship's authority; Broome made answer and cursed
your lordship, saying you was but a man, what could you do ? You
could but excommunicate them. If those villains deal thus with
your lordship, what must I expect? Mr. Dale, he comes a
preacher at Chorlton church (after a mobbing way) to draw both
my congregation after him, and by his fawning, insinuating ways,
to take their afi'ections oft' me to himself; there he comes and
preaches without the eonseut of the fellows of Manchester, and (I
presume) without your lordship's license. I have many more
G
42 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
things to relate, but shall forbear to detain your lordship any
longer ; but I being treated after this manner^ and by their mali-
cious proceedings my contribution at Birch is reduced to about
£16 per annum; and all I am like to have from Didsbury is about
£5 4s. per annum. My friends in Manchester advised me to
preach three Sundays at Birch and one at Didsbury, but that I
may know directly how to proceed in all these matters I most
humbly beg your lordship will be pleased to send me directions in
a letter. This (with submission) is the humble petition of
Your lordship's most obedient and dutiful son,
Thomas Wright.
If it please your lordship direct
for me at Didsbury.
The deposition alluded to in the foregoing letter was that of an
old servant in the Mosley family, who had been butler to Sir
Edward Mosley, and who remembered his frequently declaring
that he had given the close of land called the Ogi'e for the use of
the preaching minister for the time being at the chapel of Dids-
bmy for ever. The following is the affidavit : —
Edward Worsley of Withington, in the county of Lancaster
yeoman, 76 years of age or thereabout, maketh oath that he hath
known the parochial chapel of Didsbury, in the said county of
Lancaster, from his infancy ; and further he maketh oath that he
was butler to Sir Edward Mosley of Hough's End in the county
of Lancaster fifty years ago and upwards, and at the time he this
deponent was servant to the said Sir Edward Mosley he has heard
the said Sir Edward Mosley frequently declare that he had given
a close or parcel of land called the Ogi'c, lying and being in Dids-
bury aforesaid, for ever to and for the use of the preaching minister
for the time being at and for the said chapel. And this deponent
further maketh oath that he very well knew JNIr. Walker, minister
of Didsbury aforesaid, about thirty years ago to deponent's now
remembrance, to enjoy the said close called the Ogre as he was
minister of the said chapel for several years together. And this
I'ARUCllIAL ClIAl'KL OF DlDSBUJlY. 43
de})onont further inakcth oath that several years after the death of
the said Sir Edward Moslcy, liis relation or near friend Edward
Mosley Esq. called Judge Mosley, took the said close called the
Ogre from the said chapel; and the said judge or his family have
enjoyed and received the profits of the said close, as the deponent
has heard and verily believes.
Edward Worsley, his + mark.
After the lapse of three months Mr. Wright again addresses the
Bishop on the subject. His letter is dated " Didsbury, January
10, 1720-21," and is superscribed " For the Right Rev. Father in
God Francis Lord Bishop of Chester, in Westminster, London."
It is as follows : —
My Lord,
Mr. Shrigley acquaints me that your lordship has received
the counterpart of Piecorin's lease which belongs to Didsbury
Chapel, together with some affidavits procured by Mr. Broome and
Mr. Dale, in order to prove me a very ill man. I desire your lord-
ship will take notice that upon the back of the lease there is an
account of the time and place when and where this said Piccorin
died in Ireland, written by Judge Mosley and attested by William
Twyford ; because I am informed they have a design to scratch it
out. As to the affidavits I humbly desire your lordship will send
me copies of them, that I may give in my answer upon oath. I
am conscious of no ill things I have done among them, and I desire
no other favour but that my case may be truly stated, and I may
be fairly heard before your lordship. I was counted an honest
man till I detected their dishonesty in the church, and since then
I have been all that's bad. If your lordship please to remember
when you demanded Lady Bland's reasons why she turned me
away from Didsbury, there was no objections made nor no reasons
nor answer could be given. If your honour please to review Lady
Bland's letter which I enclosed to your lordship, she says if I would
resign Didsbury I should have her favour ; whereby it appears I
was no verv ill man. Mr. Broome and his cabal had basely abused
44 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
me behind my back, and at the visitation at Manchester I there
several times challenged Mr. Eroome and his company, if they had
anything to object against me, there to declare it before Mr. Strat-
ford, but no answer was given. My lord, I am persecuted and
hunted like a partridge upon a mountain, yet I doubt not but when
the truth appears, your honour will find these proceedings of Mr.
Dale's and Mr. Broome's to be nothing but malice and roguery.
And now my lady and her steward apprehend they shall be com-
pelled to make restitution to the church through my informations,
they are resolved, if possible, to be revenged on me that I may not
enjoy what they must restore. Mr. Shrigley tells me Mr. Dale is
very much in favour with ]Mr. Stratford, and that he has some
reason to suspect Mr. Stratford's partiality in giving your honour
an account of our proceedings at the visitation at Manchester.
Mr. Stratford said he had silenced Mr. Dale by your lordship's
order ; but it proved nothing so ; for he has preached ever since,
sometimes at Chorlton Chapel, sometimes at Northen, which is but
half a mile from me, and draws a many of my congregation after
him. Mr. Broome read a clause in the lease which says that the
curates of Didsbury should not enjoy the profits of that estate
unless they came there by the consent of Rowland Mosley Esq.
and his heirs. I proved before Mr. Stratford that the curates of
Didsbury came in by their consent ever since they took the living
from the church which was anno 1704, and therefore there are
sixteen years arrears of rent due, which is jg320. I there proved
before Mr. Broome what indirect means he and his cabal had used
to separate my congregation, with many other things ; Avhether
Mr. Stratford has informed your honour right I know not. I have
proved (by depositions upon oath) the Ogre given to and enjoyed
by the church, whereby it appears that the arrears of rent from
that are above .€300 ; so that they owe to the church above £600,
besides Sir Edward Mosley's legacy for twenty-one years, which I
can prove is not paid. What composition they may hope to make
with your lordship I know not, but all the clergy and gentry cry
shame of their proceedings. I shall not trouble your honour any
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSPUKY. 45
longer now, but liumbly desire the coi)ics of the affidavits that I
may give in my answer ; desiring nothing but to stand or fall by
the justice of my cause I shall take all care imaginable of the
affairs here, and am (with humble submission)
Your lordship's most dutiful son and oljcdient servant,
Tho:\ias Wright.
A month later we find ?\Ir. Wright again addressing the Bishop,
under the date "Didsbury, February 11, 1720-21,''' his lordship
being still in London.
INIy Lord,
I received your kind letter, and according to your com-
mands I have sent the depositions, being two of the chiefest evi-
dences I have as yet, unless there was a commission to compel
people to declare the truth by subpoenas. I design to take some
more who can only remember the Ogre in possession of the church.
On Saturday last I was with ]Mr. Shrigley, who, among public
company, told me that the abstract which ]\Ir. Broome gave
your lordship was a false one, and further told me that he lately
saAV the counterpart of Piccorin's lease, and that somebody had
altered a figure in the year of our Lord in order to make the lease
expire before the time, and, among some Avritings which ]Mr.
Broome shewed him, JNIr. Shrigley said he discovered that which
would be serviceable to my chapel. I took no notice then, but I
hope your lordship will desire him to inform you what it was. I
could save your honour the trouble, but I am dubious he will not
give me that satisfaction which he dare not deny your lordship. I
believe your lordship will think it necessary that Sir Edward
Mosley's will of Hough's End should be searched for : he gave the
Ogre to Didsbury in his life- time. I believe it will appear that
the Ogre was in possession of the church before Sir Edward made
his will; I believe his will is exemplified in chancery; he died in
the year 1665. My Lady Bland and Mr. Broome still continue
persecuting me, and this looks like the last piece of malice they are
able to vent, viz.. there is no house in or about the town for a
4G A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
curate to dwell in but that which I now live in, which I rent from
one of their lease-tenants; Broome has now sent for a wr:*t of
ejectment to fling the man off his tenement (pretending he has for-
feited his land), Avith no other design (I am sure) but to plague me
by turning my family and goods into the streets at an hour's
warning; this is what I daily expect. Mr. Broome still brow-
beating the tenants from contributing, my necessity compels me
to think of some other method for subsistence, and I have laid a
little scheme, hoping your lordship Avill encourage my just endea-
vours, viz., whereas there are several legacies (in all J 104) left to
my chapel to be laid out for the best advantage of the curates of
Didsbury for ever, the chapel-wardens being successive trustees, and
whereas all the seats in the body of the chapel being forms, and
those very old, ruinous and irregular, and having no place for a
curate to dwell in, I most humbly request your lordship will grant
us leave to pew the body of the chapel, regularly and uniformly,
which a joiner (having viewed) tells me will not cost much above
£60 ; and with the remainder of the money, with what I can beg
to it, I humbly request we may build a little house for a curate to
dwell in. The money being thus laid out, the seats upon an easy
rent will amout to £18 per annum, besides the house; whereas
several gentlemen about us have promised me to subscribe very
handsomely towards raising the bountj'^-money, I desire your lord-
ship will give orders that the congregation may choose their seats
(when new pewed) as they will advance towards gaining the bounty;
by this means I do not doubt of obtaining the bounty, and making
the income worth £40 per annum, whereas it is now but poor
£5 4s, per annum. One of my congregation designs to give four
score pounds, which will be a good step towards the money. I
hope your lordship will not let me slip so fair an opportunity of
advancing my poor chapel. I have here sent a coarse plan of it ;
when your lordship considers the reasonableness of these my hum-
ble requests I hope you will grant my petition. I have related the
matter to Mr. Bolton and Mr. Aynscough, who know how ruinous
and irregular the seats are : they are very glad of the design, and
PAROCHIAL ('HATKL OF 1)1 1)SI5UI« Y. 47
promise to assist mc and the chapel-wardens in the affair the best
they can, if your lordship think it proper. Witli humble submis-
sion, begging the favour of your lordship's answer in a post or two,
which will infinitely oblige
Your lordship's most dutiful son and obedient servant,
Thomas Wright.
At this stage of the dispute Mr. Wright appears to have re-
tired from the incumbency leaving the further agitation of the
question to his successor the Rev. Francis Hooper, between
whom and Lady Ann Bland a less hostile feeling seems to have
existed. Mr. Hooper pursues the subject in a letter addressed to
the Bishop "at the Parliament House, Westminster," dated
"Manchester, May 24, 1721."
My Lord,
I received your lordship's commands to Mr. Shrigley to
officiate at Didsbury till further orders from your lordship. I
should not have given your lordship this trouble if (without it) I
could have obeyed your commands ; but Mr. Wright, the present
incumbent refuses to leave this place without further orders from
your lordship. He insists upon terms which the Lady Bland
seems unwilling to comply with, till his future carriage and beha-
viour shews that he deserves them. I believe that he might pro-
mise himself more by trusting to her generosity than by making
any demands, and it would be more for his interest to rely upon
that rather than seem to distrust it. But however neither this nor
the discouragement he meets with nor the uneasiness of his
parishioners are motives strong enough to prevail upon him to
leave it : I question not but your lordship's advice would outweigh
them all. If it succeeds I shall faithfully obey your commands,
and do what service I can amongst them till I receive fresh orders
from your lordship. I did not know how far Mr. Shrigley's
commission might extend, and was unwilling upon Mr. Wright's
refusal, to take any step without your lordship's knowledge and
approbation. I shall wait your commands and then faithfully
48 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
observe them, and be glad of any opportunity of shewing that
I am
Yoar lordship^s most dutiful and obedient servant,
Francis Hooper.
Ultimately the case was submitted by Lady Ann Bland to Mr.
Fazakerley, an eminent counsel, for his opinion, which, on being
received, was forwarded to the Bishop, through 'Sir. Hooper, July
3rd, 1722.
The case submitted for counsel's opinion was as follows : —
Thomas Pickering being seised of a messuage and land
thereunto belonging in Didsbury in the County of Lancaster for
his life, and the reversion thereof being to Eowland Mosley of the
Hough in the said county Esq. The said Rowland by Indenture
bearing date August 12, in the sixth year of the reign of King
James I. [1608] did lease the said messuage and land to eight
persons therein named for the term of eighty years, to commence
immediately after the decease of the said Thomas Pickering, in
trust that the said lessees and their asignees should during the
said term of years occupy and enjoy the said messuage and land
for the profit and benefit of the parson, minister, vicar, curate or
incumbent of the chapel of Didsbury for the time being, so long as
any such parson, &c. should continue and be parson, kc, by and
with the consent and good-liking of the said Piowland and his
heirs, lords of the manor of Witbingtou, and of the said lessees or
of the greater number of them ; and upon this further trust that
during the time of vacation, cession or avoidance of the said par-
son's, &c. place, or after the said dislike, or of the greater number
of the persons before named, of any such to be parson, &c., that
then the said lessees and their assignees should stand possessed of
the premises for the benefit of the successor incumbent that should
after be parson, &c. of the said chapel by and with the liking and
consent of the greater number of the persons before named. In
the 10th year of the said reign [1612-13] the said Thomas Picker-
ing sold his said estate in the premises to Sir Nicholas Mosley of
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 49
the Hough Knight, and Rowland JNIoslcy his son. Above twenty
years ago the reversion of the said messuage and land came to the
Lady Bland upon the death of Sir Edward Mosley her father ; and
upon the counterpart of the said lease now in her hands there is an
endorsement written by the said Sir Edward Mosley in these
words, viz.: — "This Thomas Pickering was baptized as by the
register of Didsbury appears, May 9^ 1586, and went out of Eng-
land into Ireland about fifty years since as the clerk of Didsbury
saith, and was not heard of since, as the clerk of Didsbury said
this 9 of May 1680;" in witness of William Twyford; and there
are several old men, some above, others near eighty years of age,
who have lived all their time at and near Didsbury, who say that
they never knew or saw the said Thomas Pickering, but have heard
old people of that neighbourhood who are now dead say that they
knew the said Thomas Pickering, and that he left Didsbury and
went to Ireland many years before the time of the said old persons
now living, and that the report was that he was drowned in his
voyage ; and the said old persons now living say that ever since
they can remember, the minister of the said chapel had been in
possession of the said messuage and land until about sixteen years
ago, about which time the said Sir John Bland, having (as it is
apprehended) good evidence that the said term of eighty years was
then expired, did in right of the said lady his wife, enter into the
said messuage and land and enjoy the same until his death, without
interruption or claim : and since his decease, the said lady has
continued in the like peaceable possession until now : That the
Bishop of Chester having been informed that the said messuage
and land were formerly in possession of the ministers of the said
chapel, is very earnest with the said lady to deliver up the same.
Query, — "Whether the testimony of the said old people, as above,
will not be evidence that the said terra of eighty years is now ex-
pired, and if upon the circumstances of the case it will be advisable
for the said Lady Bland to quit the possession of the said messuage
and land ?
50 . A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Fazakerley's Opinion.
I am of opinion that under the circumstances of the case stated
as above, it is reasonable to presume the term of eighty years is
expired, especially since there has been uninterrupted enjoyment
for sixteen years in opposition to the trust of the term ; which,
though it won't take away the right, supposing the term were sub-
sisting, will be a very strong evidence of its expiration. As to the
latter part of the question, now my Lady Bland has my opinion of
the case, she will be more properly determined by her own discre-
tion than anything I can say further ; only this I may add, — that
if the case be no otherwise than as it is above stated it won't be
easy to get the possession from her unless she has a mind to quit
it voluntarily.
Nicholas Fazakerley.
This probably was deemed conclusive as far as regarded Picker-
ing's tenement leased by Rowland Mosley Esq., since we hear of
no further contention. With respect to the alleged gift of the
Ogre meadow on the part of Sir Edward Mosley, there is neither
evidence of its being given by Sir Edward nor yet of its being
taken asvay by any of his successors. There is no allusion to it in
his will, so that if given at all it must have been made over to the
chapel in his life-time, but of this no proof could be found at the
time when this question of alienation was mooted, nor has any
since come to light.
In 1704 the annual value of the living was certified at £5 4s.,
being the interest of £104 left by several benefactors; it is stated
that seventeen shillings per annum more is due, but doubtful. The
voluntary contributions amounted to £10 per annum, making a
total of £15 4s. Warden Wroe, who refers to it about three years
later, gives a somewhat difi*erent account of its annual value. " It
had," he says, " formerly a better endowment than at present ;
what is now left, with the subscriptions of the people, may amount
to near SO^^ per ann."
In 1726 the chapel received a further augmentation of £200
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 51
from Lady Ann Bland^ wliich was met by a grant of corresponding
amount from the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty.
In 1733 a wish was expressed through their secretary, that the
£400 thus subscribed should be immediately invested in land, to
which was added an intimation that it was the intention of the
governors henceforth to cease from the further payment of interest
on that sum, intending by this to expedite the purchase of land.
The Rev. Robert Twyford, at that time curate, unable to meet with
lands of the precise value, borrowed £250, and for the sum of
£650 purchased an estate called Chamber, situated at Etchels in
Cheshire, the interest on the £250 borrowed lacing paid out of the
annual proceeds of the estate. The curate's income was thus
reduced to £11 per annum, with such additional voluntary offer-
ings as the inhabitants might be disposed to make. A subscription
was consequently set on foot to raise a sufficient sum to entitle the
chapel to a second bounty, so as to repay the loan and to free the
chapel from debt. Amongst the contributors were the Bishop of
Chester and many of the neighbouring clergy and gentry, but their
aggregate contributions scarcely reached £10, a sum falling far
short of the object contemplated.
In 1753 Mr. Richard Broome gave £200, which was met by a
grant of £200 from Queen Anne's Bounty Fund, and the land
previously purchased having been re-sold at the price for which it
had been originally bought, there remained, after the repayment
of the ,£^250 borrowed, the sum of £800 for the endowment of the
chapel.
In 1760 an estate at Flixton, consisting of a messuage and out-
buildings, together with 10a. 3r, 25p. of land, large measure, was
purchased for £800.
In 1792 the chapel was again augmented with ^£"200 out of the
Royal Bounty Fund.
In 1847 the sources of annual income were thus stated : —
£ s. d.
1. Glebe land at Flixton 79 0 0
2. Ecclesiastical Commissioners' grant, being in return
53 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
for £600 paid to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
in 1842 by the parishioners^ who therewith re-
deemed from chief 47 pews for free pews for ever. 34 0 0
3. Queen Anne's Bounty (grant of 1792) 6 10 0
4. Chief rents on pews in the galleries and chancel of
the church, — average of three years 36 18 6
5. Chapelry dues for surplice fees, uncertain, — ■ average
for three years 46 6 6
6. Edward Hampson^s trust money 1 0 0
Total £203 15 0
In 1848 the glebe land at Flixton was sold to several persons
for the sum of £2,141.
In 1850 a parsonage-house was built for the curates in perpe-
tuity. It was erected on land (2250 square yards) the property of
James Heald Esq. of Parr's Wood, to whom a yearly chief is
payable of £14 Is. 4d. The total cost of its erection Avas £1,200,
of which sum £500 was taken from the endowment fund of the
chapel, £255 derived from local subscription, including £25 each
from Mr. Phillips and Mr. F. A. Phillips, £15 each from Mrs.
Birley, Mr. Herbert Birley, and Mr. Withington ; and £20 from
Wilbraham Egerton Esq. the lord of the manor ; the remainder
being contributed by the patron and his friends.
There is now in hand belonging to the chapel £2,009 2s. Id.
invested in the three per cent consolidated bank annuities, the
dividends on which are paid to the incumbent.
Until the commencement of the last century there is every
reason for believing that the patronage of the chapel was exclu-
sively vested in the Warden and Fellows of Manchester. Of this
we have no direct evidence, but its relation in various respects to
the mother church strongly favours the assumption.
In 1726 it was alienated to Lady Atine Bland, who undertook to
provide a more permanent and settled endowment for the curate,
Avhich with the assistance of the governors of Queen Anne's Ilountv,
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 53
she effected, contributing £200 for tliis purpose. In this family
it remained until the year 1775, when Ann Bland sold the advow-
son to "William Broom of Didsbury Esq., whose heir-at-law
"William Broome Esq, re-sold it in 1792 to John Newton, gent.
From this family it was conveyed by sale in 1829 to Mr. William
Newall. In 1840 his son the Kev. Samuel Newall M.A. sold it to
the late Thomas Darwell, Esq. father of James Darwell of Barton-
upon-Irwell Esq. the present patron.
The name of Alexander " Capellanus de Didsbury " occurs in
an undated deed relating to the Barlow family, wherein he, the said
Alexander, conveys to Roger de Barlow the elder all his lands in
Barlow, Chollertou, and Harday, in the manor of "Withington.^
This is the first curate of the chapel of whom anything is known.
He would officiate at Didsbury sometime before the year 1290, and
would consequently be amongst the earliest of the curates resident
there. After him a long interval follows, in which nothing has
survived of the ministers his successors, and but very scanty notices
of the chapel itself. It must be remembered that whether as a
private oratory, a chapel of ease, or even a parochial chapel, Dids-
bury Chapel possessed in the several stages of its development
nothing of the importance of a parish church to ensure its early
annals being placed on more permanent record ; and it must also
be borne in mind that the ministers in this and similar cures were
at that time generally of inferior note, not unfrequently without
ordination, and only exercising the clerical function in the absence
of men better qualified, who had no alternative but to shrink from
occupying a position so scantily providing for the wants of him who
might have become responsible for the duties. Under the date
1576 the name of "Mr. Rider'' occurs in the Chapel Register as
minister of Didsbury. It is, however, ev^idently written by another
hand, and at a subsequent period to that of the adjacent entries,
and its authority seems doubtful.
In 1580 (May 12), as we learn from the same source, Ottiwell
1 Harl. MS. 2112, fo. 172.
54 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Bagiiley minister, was buried at Didsbury. He was succeeded by
one Mr. John "Waddin, who was " curate of Diddesburie'' in 1585.
His successor was Mr. Loydes, who in 1588 officiated as curate.
In the following year we meet with the name of Richard Massye,
and in 1604 with that of James Martindale, both of whom were
resident there in the capacity of curate. These dates are not
intended to fix the period of their several inductions, but only to
identify the parties with the chapel at the times indicated. On
the 11th of August 1605 the Rev. Thomas Rycroft was appointed
minister. Mr. Rycroft was cited to appear before the bishop
December 15, 1609, for non-conformity, having refused to wear
the surplice whilst ministering. His scruples appear to have been
overcome, for we find him still at Didsbury in 1612, in which year
he was instituted to the rectory of Coddington in the county of
Chester, on the presentation of the dean and chapter. His annual
" wage" during the term of his holding the chapel of Didsbury was
£17 "besyde his provender oats." He died in 1642 I'ector of
Coddington, and letters of administration were granted to his
widow Elizabeth. His inventory is dated December 14, 1642. On
the resignation of Mr. Rycroft, the Rev. John Davenport was
nominated to the chapel. He is found officiating there in 1619,
in which year he attests by his signature the correctness of the
annual transcripts of the chapel registers forwarded to Chester.
He died at Didsbury, and was buried there March 18, 1638-9.
His inventory is dated August 15, 1639; his goods and chattels
are returned as of the value of .£'66 14s. 5d., including £17 15s.
4d. in books. John Davenporte clerk, second son of Sir William
Davenporte of Bramhall, marries about this time Townshend,
daughter of Richard Legh of Baguley Esq., but his identity with
the curate of Didsbury of that name is not established. After the
death of Mr. Davenport one Mr. Turner, who acted in the capacity
of schoolmaster at Didsbury, is found exercising also the minis-
terial function there. His name occurs in the Chapel Registers
within a month of the date of Mr. Davenport's death, and in 1642,
as we learn from the same source, he officiated as minister at the
rAKOCHIAL CriArEL OF DIDSJJURY. 55
interment of Mr. Thomas Ilcbblethwaito, a royalist officer, slain
at the siege of Manchester. It seems a little uncertain whether
Mr. Turner was ever instated as curate, and there is even room for
the further doubt whether he had at any time received ordination,
examples not being wanting, at this unsettled period, of laymen
discharging the clerical office when possessing sufficient education
to undertake it. We subsequently find the name of Mr. Bradshaw,
who is styled " minister of Didsburie," and who was either in im-
mediate succession to Mr. Davenport, or followed after a brief
tenure of office by Mr. Turner ; he was interred at Didsbury Feb-
ruary 9, 1645-6, retaining the curacy up to the time of his death.
In one of the Act Books of the Diocese of Chester is a record of a
marriage license granted to " John Bradshaw clerk and Elizabeth
Comberlache of Manchester parish," dated September 2, 1633.
On the death of Mr. Bradshaw, the first appointment to the
chapel was made under the Presbyterian form of church govern-
ment, which had then been recently established. The inhabitants
of the chapelry with whom the nomination now rested, selected as
their future pastor Mr. Thomas Clayton, and the Classical Assembly
at Manchester proceeded to ordain him. From the minutes of that
body, under the date April 14, 1647, the following memorandum
is derived : Preparation unto Ordination, according to Ordinance
of Parliament begun March 4, 1646; Mr. Thomas Clayton, aged
about twenty-four years. Master of Arts of St. John's, brought
certificate of his good conversation from Blackburn, where he was
born ; took the National Covenant before the Classis ; desired and
freely elected by the people of Didsbury in the county of Lancas-
ter; was examined according to the Ordinance; an Instrument
affixed on the church door of the said congregation, answer
returned without exception ; his question in divinity, " An gratia
Dei sit irrestibilis ?'' approved, and the ordination fixed for the
ensuing day. Mr. Clayton was accordingly ordained in Manches-
ter church along with six others, the day being declared a fast-day
for the purpose. Mr. Walker preached, and after a public con-
fession of their faith the candidates were ordained by the imposi-
56 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
tion of hands. Letters of Orders were given to each of them ;
Mr. Clayton's commission was as follows : — " Whereas, Mr. Tho-
mas Claj'ton, M' of Artes, aged about 28 yeares^ hath addressed
himself to us authorised by ordinance of both Houses of Par-
liament of y® 26 of August 1646 for the ordination of ministers^
desiring to be ordayned a Presbyter^ for y* hee is chosen and
appointed for y^ work of y*^ ministry in y® Church of Didsbury in y«
com. of Lancaster, as by a certify, now remaining with us touching
y* his election and appointment appeareth, — and hee having like-
wise taken y^ Nationall Covenant before us and exhibited a suffi-
cient Testimoniall of his diligence and proficiency in his studyees
and unblamiblenesse of life and conversation ; — He hath beene
examined according to y® Rules for examination in y® s*^ ordinance
expressed and thereupon approv'd ; and there having been noe just
exception made ag" his ordination and admission ; - — These may
testify to all whom it may concern. That upon y« 15*^ day of this
month of April we have proceeded solemnly to sett him apart to y''
office of a Presbyter and work of y*^ ministry of y** gospel by y«
laying on of our hands, by fasting and prayer^ by virtue whereof
we doe declare him to be a lawful and sufficiently authorised
minister of Jesus Christ ; — and having good evidence of his lawful
and fayre calling not only to y^ work of the ministry but to y^
exercise thereof in y^ Church of Didsbury in y^ com. aforesaid.
Wee doe hereby send him thither and actually admit him to y*^ said
charge to performe all y^ offices and dutyes of a faithful Pastor
there, exhorting y® people in y*' name of Jesus Christ willingly to
receive and acknowledge him as the minister of Christ, and to
maintain and encourage him in y® execution of his office that he
may be able to give up such an account to Christ of their obedience
to his ministry as may bee to him joy and their everlasting com-
fort. In witness whereof wee the Presbyters of y« first Classis in
the county of Lancaster have hereto sett our hands this fifteenth
day of April anno Doin 1647'.
Richard Heyrick John Harison
Edward Woolmer William Walker
ToBiE Furnace.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 57
Siraiiltaucously with the admission into orders of Mr. Clayton
arose an effort on the part of the inhabitants to make suitable
provision for his support. A meeting of the people was called to
effect this, and the following resolutions were agreed to ; the docu-
ment bears no date : —
Wee whose names are subscribed (beinge inhabitants w^^in the
parish or parochiall chapelrye of Didsburye in the county palatyne
of Lancaster) unanimouslye asscntiuge to and approvinge of the
admission and abilitye of Mr. Thomas Clayton now minister there ;
and willinge and desireinge him to continue the execucon of his
function there ; and considringe that the meanes designed to the
said church is not competent for the mainten'nce of soe deservinge
a man, whom (alwayes w*'^ the favor and assent of S"^ Edward
Mosley baronett alredye graunted) wee desire to continue and bee
confirmed in the said office ; and though wee have hope that ere
longe there may bee a convenient augmentacon obteined ffor the
inainten"nce of o'" said minister, yett, for a more & setled recom-
pence of his most approved industrie wee have thought fitt and doe
hereby iointlye & sev'allie (as a by lawe for the publique good)
order and agree in manner & forme followinge : —
Imprimis, That the said Mr. Clayton shall not onely for the yeare
alreadye past w'^'^ hee hath served here, have & receive soe much as
to make up what hee hath had xl^\ but alsoe shall (duringe his
abode w^^^ us & officiatinge) hereafter and untill soe much main-
tenance bee oth^'wise obteyned & setled, have and receive the full
soiiie of ffortye pounds p annvi quarterlye, at Michaelmas, Christ-
mas, the Annunciacon, & Midsom"" (to witt w*^ the mesuage &
tenement hereaft^ menconed as after apeares) to bee paid equallie &
respeetivelye, the first paim* to begin at Michas next ensueinge.
Item. That the mesuage and tenem* assigned to the use of the
minisf^ of the said church, for the tyme beinge, shall bee valued
and aeompted at the rate of tenne pounds p annu (towards the said
xF p annu) considringe the tyraes, & that Mr. Clayton is a single
man & soe cannot husband it to advantage.
I
58 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Item. Whereas there is a stocke of money belonginge to the said
Church, w'^'^, or the interest or use thereof we cannot account as
assured (it remayniuge in many hands) wee freelye remitt & give
(as an overplus or addicon above the said xl'^ p anuu) to the said
Mr. Clayton the interest or use of the same stocke from the tyme
of his cominge to us duringe his abode in his said place, soe farre
as in us lyeth.
Item. Wee order & agree that Thirty e pounds p annii of lawfull
money shalbee assessed, taxed & apportioned equallie & indiffer-
entlye upon us & other the inhabitants of the said Chapellrye, from
tyme to tyme, (ffor the makinge up of the said ten pounds to xl^i a
yeare as aforesaid), and that the same shalbee assessed, taxed &
laid by Edward Chorlton and George Jackson of houghend,
William Barlow of Didsburye, William Langford of Wythington,
Richard Chorlton and James Birch of Litleheath, Thomas Hughes
& Nicholas Holt of Didsburye, Edmund Chorlton of Wythington,
John Birch of Burnage, Thomas Williamson and Edward Norris
of Heaton Norris, Nicholas Wood and Edward Linney of Dids-
burye, or the greater number of them, as they or the greater
number of them shall in conscience thinke fitt and indifferent,
having regard to both personall & reall estates ; and the same first
assessm* to stand as a constant rule.
Item, That such assessm*, taxe & apporconm' shalbee speedilye
made and ingrossed perfectlye in parchm* (togeth^' 'w^^ this order)
and that two parts bee thereof made whereof th'one to remaine w^^^
the said Mr. Clayton and tV other w'^ the said assessors or some of
them, and evie one soe assessed shall pay or bee lyable to pay his
proporcon soe assessed at the tymes aforesaid.
Item. Wee order & agree (by the coinon assent aforesaid) that if
wee or any of us or any other so assessed as aforesaid shall or doe
make default of paim<^ of our or any of our proporcons, some or
soiiies of money (soe as aforesaid to bee upon us or any of us or
them assessed & taxed) at the sevall & respective dayes and tymes
aforesaid and by the space of ten dayes after any of the ffeasts or
dayes aforesaid respectivelye & soe from tyme to tyme, That then
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF JUDSBURY. 51)
& from thenceforth it shall & may bee lawfull to & for the said
Mr. Clayton, or the assessors aforesaid or the greater part of them
or tlieire or any of theire assignes, agents, servantcs by theire
or any of theire apointm* to distreinc upon the goods or cattells
of such pson or psons makinge default wheresoev"^ or howsoever,
and the distresses soe taken to sell or dispose of at any time
aff two dayes (if the parties full dues & arreres bee not before that
tyme paid) rendringe the overplus to the party; And alsoe that it
shall & may bee lawfull to the said ]\Ir. Clayton to sue at law in
any Court or Courtes (for the said assessm'^ & the arreres thereof)
the parties makinge default, in his owne name or in the name or
names of the said assessors or the great'' part of them, to his
onely use.
Item. That this order and agreem* bee speedilye putt into exe-
cucon w*^ effect ; And that the same continue in full force (as a
by lawe or publique ordinance) untill the said Mr. Clayton shall
otherwise have established aud setled upon him to the value of
xF' p annu or above, for the execucon of the cure at the Church
of Didsburye aforesaid w'^^ hee pmiseth and wee well hope hee will
pforme.
The new form of Church-government does not appear to have
worked well in Didsbury. Much difl&culty arose in persuading the
elders to act in that capacity, and in June 1648 Mr. Angier, Mr.
Clayton and others were deputed to see if they could induce them
to accept their office. Mr. Clayton^s own views seem to have been
somewhat unsettled, absenting himself from the meetings of the
Classis as though unwilling to identify himself too closely with its
members, and then excusing himself for his non-attendance by
pretexts so vague as to be admitted only on promise of future
amendment, until at length on March 11, 1650-1, it was announced
at their monthly meeting that " Mr. Clayton minister at Dids-
burie did withdraw from the Classis and departed out of y^ Classis
without anie order from the Classis."
The defection of Mr, Clayton rendered necessary the appoint-
60 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
ment of another minister, and the choice of the inhabitants fell on
the Rev. Peter Ledsarae, who proved scarcely less intractable than
was his predecessor. On the 14th of December 1652, it was
ordered that Mr. Angier and Mr. Hyde should speak to Mr. Led-
same of Didsbury concerning his presence at the Classis and erect-
ing of the government, and should make report at the next Classical
meeting. The result of this expostulation was communicated to
the assembly Janury 11, 1653-4. Mr. Ledsame promised future
appearance, excusing his present irregularity by the plea of ne-
cessary business; but when at their next meeting February 14,
he was still absent, a summons was ordered to be issued compelling
him to appear. In 1661 he was instituted rector of Wilmslow in
the county of Chester, on the presentation of Sir Cecil Trafford,
which he resigned in 1673, and dying July .22, 1678, was buried
at Wilmslow. Of Mr. Ledsame's successor nothing has reached
us ; whoever he may have been it is presumed that he conformed
in 1662, since we have no tidings of the ejection of a curate from
Didsbury on the passing of the Act of Uniformity. In 1664
Didsbury was declared to be without a curate, the Registers of the
Chapel announcing under the date February 10, 1664-5, that cer-
tain children belonging to Withington were christened at Chorlton,
there " being noe minister at Didsbury." Other entries, seemingly
at variance with this, intimate that the Rev. James Jackson was
curate there. In September 1658 Mary, the daughter of "James
Jackson minister" (of what cure is not stated) was buried at Dids-
bury; and latei', in July 1666, "Elin the daughter of James Jack-
son minister" was likewise interred, — leading to the inference that
Mr. Jackson may possibly have been Mr. Ledsame's immediate
successor, and that the absence of a minister announced in 1664
may have arisen from some temporary cause not affecting his con-
tinuance there, the duration of that absence not extending beyond
a single day Mr. Jackson was, however, during these same years
curate of the neighbouring chapel of Chorlton, and the only mode
of reconciling these apparently contradictory statements is to
suppose that he held ])oth chapels as the custom then not unfre-
I'AROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. Gl
qucntly was, in the case of benefices scantily endowed. In 1GG7
the chapel was unsupplied, and a caveat was entered by Joseph
Maynard Esq. against the licensing of a curate. Mr. Maynard
was brother-in-law of Sir Edward Mosley Bart., then recently
deceased, whose will was under litigation ; and it is inferred that
as claimant under the deceased baronet's will he was desirous that
his asserted right of concurrence in the appointment of minister
(upon which concurrence the payment of certain sums left by his
wife's family in augmentation of the minister's income had been
made conditional) might not be prejudiced. In 1678 the Rev.
John Walker was found exercising the function of curate ; he held
the curacy till 1G85. He was a graduate of Magdalene College,
Cambridge, INI. A. 1669. His successor was the Rev. Peter Shaw,
who at the time of his appointment was curate of Stretford Chapel.
Mr. Shaw continued at Didsbury for some years ; his name is met
with in the Chapel Registers in 1699. In the following year he
resigned the cure. In 1704 (June 7) the Rev. Joshua Wake-
field B.A. of Queen's College, Cambridge (B.A. 1695, M.A. 1699)
was nominated to Didsbury by the Warden and Fellows of Man-
chester, his nomination being signed by Richard Wroe, Warden ;
Roger Bolton and Robert Assheton, Fellows ; — but though
receiving in 1704 his formal appointment, he was officiating as
curate at Didsbury four years earlier, his signature as minister
being attached to the churchwardens' accounts for the year 1700.
He was therefore Mr. Shaw's immediate successor. . His stay was
but short, for we find one Joshua Wakefield, probably the same
individual, instituted December 9, 1705, to the rectory of Wilms-
low on the presentation of John Harrison. In 1706 Roger Bolton
signs his name as " Curate" at the annual auditing of the church-
wardens' accounts of the preceding year. It seems not improbable
that Mr. Bolton was the Fellow of Manchester Collegiate Church
of that name. He was succeeded in 1709 by the Rev. David
Dawson, who was found officiating as curate in that year, and
subsequently also in 1715. Mr. Dawson was of St. John's College,
Cambridge, B.A. 1706. In 1716 the Rev. James Leicester B.A.
63 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
of St. John's College^ Cambridge, was minister of the chapel ; the
date of his nomination is not recorded. He was also Librarian of
the Chetham Library in Manchester, to which he had been
appointed in 1712 on the resignation of the Rev. Nathaniel Banne.
He died at Didsbury, and was buried there September 5, 1718,
The next curate whose name has reached us is the Rev. Thomas
Wright B.A., nominated July 11, 1720, by the Warden and
Fellows ; his nomination is signed by Thomas Hall, Roger Bolton,
and Robert Assheton, Fellows. There had doubtless been an
intermediate nomination following more closely the death of Mr.
Leicester, but the name of the curate is unknown. Mr. Wright
appears to have been a man of a litigious spirit, as his correspond-
ence, elsewhere given, with Bishop Gastrell will serve to show.
From the commeu cement of his ministration at Didsbury he was
unfortunate, beginning as his career did with an humble submis-
sion to his diocesan for previous informal practices now first objected
against him. The document is short, and explains itself: — " For-
asmuch as I Thomas Wright, clerk, did perform the service of the
Church of England and preach at Winnington Hall without the
license of the Right Reverend Father in God Francis Lord Bishop
of Chester, I do hereby acknowledge that my offence, and am
heartily sorry I did anything to incur the displeasure of my
honourable diocesan ; but forasmuch as it was not done in con-
tempt, but through ignorance on one hand and the necessitous obli-
gations I lay under on the other, I tlierefore hope your lordship will
pardon me, who from henceforth promise to be your lordship^s
most obedient dutiful son." — His stay at Didsbury was under
two years. He failed to conciliate the people, and was probably
starved into a resignation of the living. He held also the chapel
of Birch, to which as well as to Didsbury he had been nominated
July 11, 1720. He resigned both chapels the same day, January
10, 1721-2, and was succeeded by the Rev. Francis Hooper M.A.
(B.A. 1716, M.A. 1720), Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, at
that time Librarian also of the Chetham Library, Manchester, in
succession to IMr. Leicester. He resigned the two appointments
PAROCHIAL CIIArEL OF DIDSBURY. G3
after having held them for about five years. On the 15th Sep-
tember 1726, the Rev. Robert Twyford B.A. of Brazennose College,
Oxford, was nominated to the chapel by the Lady Anne Bland, to
whom the patronage had been recently alienated. Mr. Twyford
was a native of Didsbury, the son of Mr. Robert Twyford,
descended from a royalist family of respectable connexions in the
township; he Avas born in 1690. For the two or three last years
of his life he held the adjacent chapel of Birch in conjunction with
that of Didsbury ; he died at Didsbury, and was buried there
March 2, 1746-7. On the 15th day of May following, the Rev.
William Twyford B.A. of St. John's College, Cambridge, was
nominated by Sir John Bland Bart, to succeed his father, the late
curate. He had been already licensed (March 17) to Birch Chapel,
but this he resigned in 1752. He held Didsbury for nearly fifty
years, and dying in 1795 was succeeded by the Rev. John Newton
M.A. of Queen's College, Cambridge, who was nominated July 28,
1795, by John Newton gent. Mr. Newton held the chapel until
his death, which occurred September 16, 1807. He was buried at
Didsbury. On the 3rd of November 1807, the Rev. John GatHff
M.A. succeeded on the death of Mr. Newton. His nomination
was under the hand of the Rev. Henry Brown, " who had pur-
chased the presentation during the life of the late incumbent, but
had it not in his power at present to hold it." In 1792 Mr. Gatliff
was elected clerk in orders of the Collegiate Church, Manchester,
on the death of the Rev. John Everard Upton, who was killed by a
fall from his horse after holding the office for the brief space of six
weeks ; and on the decease of the Rev. Dr. Griffiths was appointed
to succeed him March 19, 1798, as Fellow of the Collegiate
Church. He became rector of St. Mary's, Manchester, in 1804,
and died November 22, 1843, aged eighty, having three years pre-
viously resigned the Chapel of Didsbury. He was succeeded by
the Rev. William John Kidd, Incumbent of St, Matthew's, Man-
chester, who received his nomination to Didsbury from Thomas
Darwell of Manchester Esq. December 30, 1840, and is the present
incumbent.
64
A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
The following is a list of the Curates of Didsbury^ as far as their
names can now be recovered : —
1576. Rider.
1678, 1685.
-1580. Ottiwell Baguley. 1685-1700.
1585, John Waddin. 1700-1705.
1588. Loydes. 1705-1709.
1589. Richard Massye. 1709-1716.
1604. James Martindale. 1716-1718.
1605-1612. Thomas Rycroft. 1720-1721.
1619, 1638. John Davenport. 1721-1726.
1638- Turner. 1726-1746.
-1646. John Bradshaw. 1746-1795.
1647-1650. Thomas Clayton. 1795-1807.
1650-1661. Peter Ledsame. 1807-1840.
1664. No curate. 1840.
John Walker.
Peter Shaw.
Joshua Wakefield.
Roger Bolton.
David Dawson.
James Leicester.
Thomas Wright.
Praucis Hooper.
Robert Twyford.
William Twyford.
John Newton.
John Gatliflf.
William John Kidd.
The Registers of the Chapel commence in the year 1561, and
are for the most part in good preservation. The arrangement of
baptisms, marriages and burials, under separate heads, is more
methodical than often happens. In the earliest volume the first
page, consisting of entries of marriages from 1561 to 1570, is all
but illegible, the soiled condition of the parchment rendering the
writing indistinct ; but in other respects the earlier entries are
more carefully made than those of a later date.
Year.
Bapt.
Bur.
Marr.
Year.
Bapt.
Bur.
IMarr
1561 .
1562 .
.. 28 .
.. 25 .
want-
* • ing
.. 18
... Qi
... 0
1570 ^
r imper- "^
feet I
. 6 j
> 13 .
.. 1
1563 .
want-
• • ing •
.. 18
... 0
1571 ..
,. 31 ..
. 22 .
.. 6
1564 .,
want-
' • ing •
want-
•• ing
... 0
1572 ..
. 29 ..
, 12 ..
.. 5
1565 .
1566 .
want-
• • ing •
.. 35 .
want-
•• ing
.. 26
... 0
... 0
1573 j
. 4 J
- 25 .
.. 9
1567 .
1568 .
.. 31 .
.. 30 .
.. 23
.. 27
... 0
... 0
1574 -|
~ imper- "^
feet i.
- 2 /
- 11 .
.. 1
1569 .,
want-
• • ing •
want-
•■ ing
... 0
1575 ..
. 22 ..
. 28 .,
,. 9
1
Illegible from 1561 to 1570.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY.
65
Year. Bapt. Bur. Marr.
1576 ... 38 .. 27 . . 7
1577 ..."i'^J^'- ... 32 ... 11
1578 ... 38 ... 31 ... 14
1579 ... 18 ... 16 ... 7
1580 ... 35 ... 39 ... 10
1581 ... 26 ... 23 .. 6
1582 ... 29 ... 29 .. 4
1583 ... 32 ... 25 ... S
1584 ... 35 ... 28 ... 5
1585 ... 39 ... 50 ... 4
1586 ... 21 ... 35 ... 9
1587 ... 23 ... 45 ... 3
1588 ... 13 ... 27 ... 0
1589 ... 25 . . 22 ... 3
1590 ... 31 ... 46 .. 12
1591 ... 39 ... 38 ... 6
1592 ... 43 ... 37 ... 5
1593 .. 47 ... 27 ... 5
1594 ... 48 ... 26 ... 8
1595 ... 39 ... 23 ... 4
1596 ... 44 ... 35 ... 5
1597 . . 37 ... 48 ... 2
1598 ... 30 ... 54 ... 3
1599 ... 48 ... 38 ... 6
1600 ... 42 ... 37 ... 7
1601 ... 30 ... 32 ... I
1602 ... 24 ... 40 ... 2
r imper- "^
1603 ... 35 J. g I 0
{iniper- iniper- ''I
? ••• 16 r ^
1605 ... 35 ... 44 ... 3
1606 ... 52 ... 40 ... 3
1607 ... 36 ... 30 ... 3
Year.
Bapt.
Bur. Marr.
1608 ... 33 ... 27 ... 1
1609 ... 30 ... 24 ... 3
1610 ... 30 ... 28 ... 2
1611 ... 30 ... 40 ... 3
1612 ... 16 ... 28 ... 1
1613 ... 20 ... 26 ... 1
{iniper- ~l
{imper- ~\
15 r ^
1616 ... 34 ... 34 ... 0
1617 ... 29 ... 46 ... 1
1618 ... 29 ... 22 ... 0
1619 ... 32 ... 29 ... 5
1620 ... 35 ... 19 ... 3
1621 ... 39 ... 36 ... 0
1622 ... 29 ... 55 ... 7
1623 ... 28 ... 67 .., 1
1624 ... 36 ... 36 ... 0
1625 ... 35 ... 28 ... 1
1626 ... 39 ... 42 ... 2
1627 ... 36 ... 22 ... 0
1628 ... 37 ... 20 ... 5
1629 ... 42 ... 34 ... 2
1630 ... 47 ... 33 ... 0
1631 ... 33 ... 29 ... 0
1632 ... 44 ... 36 ... 4
1633 ... 38 ... 29 ... 7
1634 . . 44 . . 33 ... 2
1635 ... 43 ... 50 ... 3
1636 ... 28 ... 27 ... 3
1637 ... 31 ... 47 ... 7
1638 . . 32 ... 44 ... 3
1639 ... 41 ... 42 ... 7
66
A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Year.
Bapt.
Bur.
Marr.
1640 ...
31
84 .
3
1641 ...
30
. . .
17 ...
7
1642 ...
22
29 ...
1
1643 1
imper-
fect
5
...
imper- ">
feet I
8 J
1
1644 ...
38
56 ...
17
1645 ...
50
36 ...
9
1646 ...
want-
ing
...
want-
ing • • •
0
1647 ...
imper-
fect
..
want-
ing • • •
1
1648 ...
imper-
fect
...
want-
ing • • •
0
1649 ...
imper-
fect
{
imper- "^
feet L
6 J
3
1650 i
imper-
fect
21
...
imper- ""l
feet l
4 J
1
1651 1
imper-
fect
10
}
27 ...
1
1652 . .
31
35 ...
1
1653 ...
18
37 ...
2
1654 ...
23
17 ...
0
1655 ...
29
23 ..
3
1656 ...
32
83 ...
0
1657 ..
16
42 ...
0
1658 ...
15
54 ..
2
1659 ...
19
28 ...
4
1660 ...
19
16 ...
2
1661 ..
22
27 ...
0
1662 ...
17
35 ...
2
1663 ...
29
20 ...
4
1664 ...
27
S3 ...
2
1665 ...
19
37 ..
1
1666 ...
22
22 ...
3
]667 ..
24
41 ...
2
1668 ...
27
36 ...
4
1669 ...
25
38 ..
5
Year.
Bapt.
Bur.
Marr.
1670 .
. 21 .
. 38 .
.. 5
1671 ..
, 20 ..
. 39 .
. 5
1672 .
. 26 .
. 45 .
.. 1
1673 .
. 82 ..
. 28 .
.. 2
1674 .
. 24 .
. 42 .
.. 3
1675 .
. 17 ..
. 40 .
. 0
1676 .
. 17 .
. 38 .
.. 3
1677 .
. 24 .
. 32 .
.. 2
1678 .
. 18 .
. 81 .
2
1679 .
. 17 .
. 29 .
.. 3
1680 .
. 25 .
. 41 .
4
1681 .
. 17 .
. 48 .
.. 1
1682 .
. 26 .
. 20 .
.. 1
1683 .
. 21 .
. 28 .
,. 5
1684 .
. 21 .
. 67 .
.. 1
1685 .
22
. 44 .
.. 3
1686 .
. 24 .
. 36 .
.. 2
1687 ..
. 10 ..
. 20 .
.. 1
1688 .
. 15 ..
. 24 .
.. 8
1689 ..
. 28 .
. 32 .
.. 4
1690 ..
. 18 ..
. 17 .
. 4
1691
. 17 .
. 20 .
.. 1
1692 .
. 18 .
. 36 .
.. 5
1693 .
. 11 .
. 23 .
.. 4
1694 ..
. 18 .
. 26 .
. 1
1695 ..
17 ..
. 47 .
. 2
1696 .
. 21 ..
25 .
.. 1
1697 .
. 16 .
. 29 .
. 0
1698 .
. 11 .
. 31 .
.. 1
1699 .
. 12 .
. 34 .
.. 1
1700 .
. 9 ..
. 34 .
.. 1
1701 .
. 19 .
. 26 .
.. 1
1702 .
imper-
• feet • •
. 23 .
.. 0
1703 .
. 17 .
. 20 .
.. 1
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. G7
Year.
Bapt.
Bur.
Marr.
Year.
Bapt.
Bur.
Marr.
170i .
12 .
.. 25 .,
,. 2
1737 .
.. 41 .
.. 25 .
.. 2
1705 .,
.. 15 .
.. 20 ..
2
1738 ..
,. 42 .
.. 18 .
.. 4
1706.,
.. 18 .
.. 25 .,
,. 7
1739 .
.. 36 .
.. 24 .
.. 2
1707 .
.. 17 .
.. 32 .,
.. 1
1740 .,
.. 35 .
.. 61 .
.. 2
.1708 .
. 16 .
.. 31 ..
1
1741 .,
.. 45 .
.. 32 .
.. 2
1709 .,
,. 13 .
.. 28 ..
2
1742 .
,. 41 .
.. 42 .
.. 1
1710 ..
,. 21 .
.. 18 .,
.. 5
1743 ..
,. 43 .
.. 16 .
.. 1
1711 .,
.. 19 .
.. 23 .,
.. 1
1744 .,
,. 59 .
.. 18 .
.. 3
1712 ..
,. 30 .
.. 33 ..
. 3
1745 .,
.. 42 .
.. 27 .
.. 10
1713 .
,. 31 .
.. 21 ,
,. 1
1746 ..
,. 28 .,
.. 34 .
.. 4
1714 ..
. 30 .
.. 27 ..
. 1
1747 ..
. 24 .,
,. 38 .
.. 3
1715 ..
,. 34 .,
.. 36 ..
. 1
1748 .
. 31 .,
.. 15 .
.. 4
1716..
,. 24 .
.. 27 ..
2
1749 .,
,. 38 .,
.. 20 .
.. 0
1717 ..
. 19 .
.. 85 ..
. 0
1750 ..
. 31 .
.. 23 .
.. 4
1718 ..
. 35 .,
22
. 4
1751 ..
,. 37 ..
.. 21 .
.. 4
1719 ..
,. 34 ..
.. 28 ..
5
1752 ..
,. 27 .,
,. 12 .
.. 0 1
1720 ..
. 35 .,
.. 21 ..
. 1
1753 ..
,. 26 .
.. 34 .
.. 0
1721 ..
. 24 .,
.. 42 ..
. 1
1754 .,
,. 36 .
.. 32 .
. 0
1722 ..
. 33 .,
,. 41 ..
. 1
1755 ..
,. 38 .
. 35 .
.. 0
1723 ..
. 28 ..
,. 24 ..
. 3
1756 ..
. 30 .,
.. 59 .
.. 0
1724 ..
. 41 ..
.. 36 ..
. 0
1757 ..
. 41 ..
. 21 .,
,. 0
1725 ..
. 41 .
. 38 ..
. 0
1758 ..
. 36 ..
22
.. 0
1726 ..
. 45 ..
,. 55 ..
. 1
1759 ..
. 45 ..
. 30 .,
.. 0
1727 ..
. 30 ..
,. 78 ..
2
1760 ..
. 38 .,
,. 37 .,
.. 0
1728 ..
. 29 ..
97 ..
. 1
1761 ..
. 42 ..
,. 37 .,
.. 0
1729 ..
. 18 ..
. 91 ..
. 3
1762 ..
. 47 ..
. 32 ..
,. 0
1730 ..
. 33 ..
. 56 ..
. 3
1763 ..
. 28 ..
,. 29 .,
,. 0
1731 ..
. 41 ..
. 42 ..
. 9
1764 ..
. 50 ..
. 51 ..
.. 0
1732 ..
. 31 ..
. 41 ..
. 4
1765 ..
. 31 ..
. 30 .,
,. 0
1733 ..
. 40 ..
. 18 ..
. 3
1766 ..
. 45 ..
. 34 .,
0
1734 ..
. 36 ..
. 28 ..
. 1
1767 ..
. 40 ..
. 37 ..
. 0
1735 ..
. 36 ..
. 44 ..
. 3
1768 ..
. 37 ..
. 39 ..
,, 0
1736 .
. 41 ..
. 36 ..
. 8
1769 ..
. 40 ..
. 31 .
. 0
' From this date marriages cease at Diclsbury, not being resumed until
the year 1838.
68 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Year.
Bapt.
Bur.
Marr.
Year.
Bapt.
Bur.
Marr.
1770 .
.. 42 .
.. 74 ..
. 0
1804 .
.. 61 ,
... 53 .
.. 0
1771 .
.. 45 .
.. 43 ..
. 0
1805 .
.. 76
.. 70 .
.. 0
1772 ..
.. 27 .
.. 57 ..
. 0
1806 .
.. 74 .
.. 62 .,
.. 0
1773 .,
,. 36 .
.. 25 ..
. 0
1807 .
.. 73 .
.. 80 .
.. 0
1774 .,
.. 34 .
.. 35 ..
. 0
1808 .
.. 74 .
.. 83 .,
.. 0.
1775 ..
,. 29 .
.. 30 ..
. 0
1809 .
.. 68 .
.. 69 .
.. 0
1776 ..
,. 42 .
.. 60 ..
. 0
1810 .
.. 83 .
.. 99 .,
.. 0
1777..
,. 36 .
.. 40 ..
. 0
1811 .
.. 77 .
,.. 52 .,
.. 0
1778 ..
,. 25 .,
.. 43 ..
- 0
1812 .
.. 64 .
.. 71 .,
.. 0
1779 ..
. 32 ..
. 67 ..
. 0
1813 .
.. 70 .
.. 78 .,
.. 0
1780 ..
. 32 ..
,. 49 ..
. 0
1814
.. 67 .
..101 .,
,. 0
1781 ..
. 28 .,
,. 60 ..
. 0
1815 .
.. 62 .
.. 99 ..
,. 0
1782 ..
. 44 ..
. 54 ..
. 0
1816 .
.. 67 .
..106 ..
,. 0
1783 ..
. 31 ..
,. 53 ..
. 0
1817 .
.. 78 .
.. 88 ..
. 0
1784 ..
. 46 .
, 38 ..
. 0
1818 .
.. 60 .
..102 ..
. 0
1785 ..
. 35 ..
,. 52 ..
. 0
1819 .
.. 70 .
.. 74 ..
. 0
1786 ..
. 44 ..
. 52 ..
0
1820 .
.. 56 .
.. 69 ..
. 0
1787 ..
. 47 ..
. 56 ..
. 0
1821 .
.. 63 .
.. 91 ..
. 0
1788 .
. 40 ..
,. 48 ..
0
1822 .
.. 91 .
.. 77 .,
0
1789 ..
. 50 ..
. 70 ..
. 0
1823 .
.. 78 .
..103 ..
. 0
1790 ..
52 ..
. 54 ..
. 0
1824 .
.. 74 .
., 85 ..
. 0
1791 ..
. 46 ..
. 60 ..
. 0
1825 .
.. 65 .
.. 80 ..
.. 0
1792 ..
. 49 ..
. 73 ..
. 0
1826 .
.. 82 .
..136 ..
. 0
1793 ..
. 61 ..
. 58 ..
. 0
1827 .
.. 70 .
.. 80 ..
. 0
1794 .
. 49 .
67 ..
. 0
1828 .
.. 79 .
.. 95 ..
. 0
1795 ..
. 64 ..
. 66 ..
. 0
1829 .
.. 71 .
.. 87 ..
. 0
1796 ..
. 55 ..
. 83 ..
. 0
1830 .
.. 78 .
..104 ..
. 0
1797 ..
. 57 ..
. 48 ..
. 0
1831 .
.. 74 .
..126 ..
. 0
1798 ..
. 62 ..
. 67 ..
. 0
1832 .
.. 98 .
..102 .
. 0
1799 ..
. 59 ..
. 74 ..
. 0
1833 .
.. 96 .
.. 85 ..
. 0
1800 ..
. 61 ..
. 73 ..
. 0
1834 .
..121 .
..119 ..
0
1801 ..
. 59 ..
,. 72 ..
. 0
1835 .
..114 .
..114 ..
. 0
1802 ..
. 70 ..
. 82 ..
. 0
1836 .
..106 .
..126 ..
. 0
1803 ..
79 ..
. 75 ..
. 0
1837 .
..123 .
..114 ..
. 0
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY.
69
Year.
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
Bapt. Bur.
.102 ...120 .
.101 ...109 .
96
86
74
1843 ...107
1844 ... 91
1845 ...100
1846 ... 89
,.114 .
.. 80 .
.. 91 .
..115 .
.. 97 .
.. 92 .
.108 .
Marr.
.. 34
.. 47
.. 44
.. 43
.. 37
.. 94
.. 81
.. 89
.. 80
Year.
Bapt.
Bur.
Marr.
1847 .
. 85 .
. 96 .
. 65
1848 .
. 81 .
.105 .
. 84
1849 .
. 91 .
.106 .
. 80
1850 .
. 83 .
. 68 .
. 46
1851 .
. 73 .
.103 .
. 28
1852 .
. 81 .
. 84 .
. 11
1853 .
. 59 .
. 86 .
. 10
1854
64 .
. 86 .
. 4
1855 .
. 51 .
. 71 .
. 7
1563. jNIarcli 26. Baptized ffrances^ the sonue of Nicholas Mos-
seley esquyer.
1563. April 3. Buried Thomas Blomeley aud hys wyffe, eodem
die.
1563. INIarch 21. Buried uxor Mr. Holme.
1566. April 29. Baptized Johu_, the sonue of a poore man.
1566. October 19. Baptized Nicholas, the sonne of Nicholas
Mosseley esquyer.
1567. January 26. Baptized Alexander, the sonne of Nicholas
Mosseley esquyer.
1569. October 17. Baptized Edward, the sonne of Nicholas
Mosseley.
1578. September 34. Buried Ehzabeth, the doughter of Alex
Barlowe gent.
1580. May 13. Buried Ottiwell Baguley minister.
1581. September 16. Baptized Margarett, the doughter of Alex
Barlowe gent.
1583. December 26. Buried EHzabeth, the wyffe of Ale^^ Barlowe
esquyer.
1584. August 36. Buried Alexander Barlowe de Barlowe es-
quyer.
1585. November 30. Baptized Edwarde, the sonne of Alex Bar-
lowe gent.
1587. June 1. Baptized John, the sonne of Kicharde Booth
gent.
70 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
1588. Mr. Loydes beinge minister iu the yeare 1588 regestered
non in hys tyme.
1589. July 7. Buried John Downes alias Chorleton, ye sonne of
John Chorleton clerke, in templo.
1589. July 21. Baptized Jane, the doughter of AleS Barlowe
ar.
1590. December 21. Buried Rauffe, the sonne of Thomas Sorow-
colde de Manchester.
1590. February 6. Baptized Thomas, the sonne of Robarte
Brooke by Elizabeth Ryle alias Great besse.
1591. May 9. Buried Anne, the wyffe of Thomas Woodd clerke
de Didisbury.^
1593. February 8. Buried John, the sonne of Rowlande Mos-
seley of the Houghend gen.
1595. December 25. Buried Edmound, the sonne of Ale5^ Bar-
lowe gen,
1596. October 24. Buried Anne, the doughter of R. [or K.J T.
by I. Prestwich.
1597. January 26. Buried one Bexweeke a poore man, dyed at
Edmoundes Barlowe.
1597. Ellin Rediche of ffallowfilde bare a womaii childe and it
was buryed ffeb. 19.
1 The ofEce of parish clerk lias been transmitted iu one family from father to son
for the long space of two himdred and fifty years, as appears from the registers and
also from a grave-stone in the chapel-yard thus inscribed: " In commemoration of
Thomas Wood clerk of this church, who was buried beneath this place : Ann his wife,
buried May 9, 1591. Thomas Wood clerk above sixty years, buried October 20, 1651 ;
Ann his wife, buried August 20, 1639. William Wood clerk thirty years, buried May
28, 1681, aged sixty-three years ; Mary his wife, buried May 28, 1672. Thomas Wood
clerk thirty-six years, buried October 6, 1717, aged sixty-seven years ; Mary his wife,
aged ninety-two years, buried February 10, 1744. Thomas Wood clerk thirty years,
buried January 2, 1746, aged sixty-oue years ; Sarah his wife, buried March 6, 1773
aged eighty-seven years. William Wood clerk forty-four years, buried December 10,
1790, aged seventy years ; Mary his wife, buried December 27, 1798, aged eighty
years. James Wood clerk fifteen years, died July 5, 1805, aged forty-one years.
Thomas Wood clerk thirty-four years, died May 29, 1839, aged eighty-two years, —
he and his ancestors having filled that ofliee upwards of two hundred and fifty years
successively ; also Mary his wife, died August 4, 1837, aged eighty-six years."
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OK DIDSBUUY. 71
1599. May 1. Married Edwardc Sagar notarius publicus ct
Elizabeth Astley.
1605. August 10. Married Alexander Cliorlton and Ellync
Turner by me J... Barnet(?) p'son of Northcn.
1605. Thomas lloycrofte came the xi*^ daye of August to bee
minister at Diddisburye.
1605. September 19. Buried an infante still borne, whose mother
was infected with the pestilence.
1605. September 19. Buried Thomas ex pestilcntia.
1605. September 30. Buried Thomas Blomeley the yonger ex
pestilentia.
1605. September 21. Buried Edward Blomeley ex pestilentia.
1605. September 21. Buried Richard his sonue ex eodem morbo.
1605. September 22. Buried Katharyn Blomeley ex pestilentia.
1605. September 23. Buried Ellis Blomeley ex pestilentia.
1605. September 24. Buried Thomas Blomeley ex pestilentia.
1605. September 26. Buried Adam Blomeley ex pestilentia.
1605. October 1. Buried Alyce Blomeley ex pestilentia.^
1605. February 25. Baptized Anthony, sonne of flFrancis Elcocke
of Stoekforth.
1606. December 8. Married Mr. Proudlove and Elizabeth Hulme
vidua.
1607. May 21. Married Mr. William Whitmore esquyer and
Mrs. Margaret Mosley.
1610. July 26. Buried ffrancis Mosley, y^ sonne of S'' Nicholas
Mosley.
1610. November 13. Buried two litle infantes borne longe be-
fore their e full tyme.
1610. January 5. Buried a poore aged strange woman starved to
death.
1 Though Didsbury was not altogether free from the pestilence which in this year de-
populated Manchester, as is shown by the above melancholy record, it does not appear
that the township suffered very generally, the number of burials being but sUghtly in
excess of the average in former years. In Manchester its effects were more marked ;
deaths increased sevenfold ; no fewer than 1,078 interments were recorded in the
Registers of the Collegiate Church during the year, being at least one-fifth of the
inhabitants.
72 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
1611. July 29. Buried James Hartley, desperately slayne in his
drunkenues.
1612. December 8. Buried S^ Nicholas Mosley knight.
1613. May 27. Buried An, the wyfe of Mr. Rowland Moseley.
1615. November 6. Buried an infante childe of Mr. Rowland
Moseley Esq.
1616. March 11. Buried Mr. Rowland Mosley Esq.
1617. May 27. Buried Dame EHzabeth Mosley, the wife of Sir
Nicholas Mosley knight.
1629. October 4. Baptized Robert, the sonne of John Daven-
porte minister.
1633. ffebruary 12. Married Mr. Antonye Elcocke and Mris.
Alis Hilton.
1635. August 16. Baptized Mary, the doughter of Mr. Bently
p'cher at Birch Chap.
1636. July 27. Baptized Katharine, the daughter of John Da-
venporte minister.
1636. November 15. Married Edwarde Mosley Esq. and Mris.
Mary Cutler, maried at Chorlton Chap.
1636. November 24. Buried Mr. John TratFord of Chorlton.
1636. November 29. Buried Katharine, the daughter of John
Davenporte minister.
1638. April 3. Baptized Oswald, the sonne of Mosley Esq.
1638. November 29. Buried JMargaret Willsonne, a poore old
woman.
1638. March 18. Buried Mr. Davenporte minister of the Church
of Didsburie,
1639. April 7. Baptized Nathaniel, the sonne of Mr. Turner.
1639. May 29. Buried Thomas, the sonne of Mr. John Daven-
porte.
1639. September 15. Baptized Anne, daughter of Mr. John
Davenporte.
1642. September. Att this tyme was civill and bloodie warrs be-
twixt Kinge Charles and his Parlament, and Manchester
was beseiged the 25 of this month, and this booke was
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 73
plundered by T. W, vf^^^ caused this blankc [from Sep-
tember 4, 1642, to February 1G43-4].
1643. Mr. Thomas Ilcbblcthwaitcs was buried at Didsburie the
xxviij^'^ of September. This gentleman came (in 1642)
against Manchester and was slaine at the seige there,
and was brought to Didsbury to bee buryed, and was
buryed by Mr. Turner schoolemaster.
1643. flebruary 16. Buried Eic: Ward gent, a troop[er].
1644. September 8. Married Captaine Charles Worsley^ and
Mary Booth.
1645. Plague in Manchester this yeare.^
1645. December 9. Baptized James, the sonne of Mr. Thomas
Minshall of Manchester.
1645. fFebruary 9. Buried JNIr. Bradshawe minister of Didsburie.
1647. March 14. Baptized Anne, the second daughter of Sir
Edward INlosley Baronet, born ^Marcli 3.
1650. April 9. Baptized Mary, the daughter of Mr. Clayton
minister of Didsbury.
1650. August 9. Married Robert Powell Esq. and Mris. Pene-
lope Dowars, marrid at Trafford.
1651. Buried a sonne of Thomas Clayton minister.
1651. October 20. Buried Thomas Woode, who had binne clarke
of Didsburie above three score yeares.
1651. December 23. Baptized Dorothie, the daughter of Peter
Ledsame minister of Didsburie.
1657. December 4. Buried Sir Edward Mosley Barronett, who
was lord of the Houghe and Manchester.
1 Of Piatt Hall iu Eusholme, afterwards Major- General in the Parliamentary army
and M.P. for Manchester.
2 In this year the inhabitants of Manchester were reduced to such distress by this
terrible visitation that, by an ordinance of Parliament dated December 9, a collection
was du-ected to be made for the poor of the town of Manchester in all the churches
and chapels of Westminster. How far Didsbury suffered is not known. The Registers
of the Chapel show no increase in the number of interments over the average of for-
mer years, nor in any of the entries is the cause of death specified as in the like visita-
tion in 1605 ; from which circumstance we may infer that Didsbury escaped its ravages.
L
74 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
1661. November 4. Buried James Hudson of Heaton Norris,
who was supposed to be above sixe score yeares ould.
1658. September 10. Buried Mary^ the daughter of James Jack-
sou minister.
1661. December 11. Baptized Robert, y« sonne of Robert Twy-
ford gen.
1661. March 5. Buried Mris. Anne Mosley of the Hough End
widdow.
1662. August 24. Buried Mr. Robert Twyford of Didsbury.
1664. February 10. Jane the daughter of William Rowbothom
of Withington, and Mary the daughter of Nicholas
Townley of Withington, were baptized at Chorlton, there
being noe minister at Didsbury.
1665. August 21. Buried Misteris Elin Ross from Barlow.
1665. October 21. Buried Sir Edward Mosley Barronet, who
was lord of Hough and Manchester; died the 14 daye.
1665. January 25. Buried a poore woeman that was found
drowned and cast up with a flood.
1666. July 9. Buried Elin, the daughter of James Jackson
minister.
1667. December 3. Buried John Parre, a doctor of fissicke, died
at Hough End.
1668. January 4. Buried Margaret, the wife of Master Richard
Twyford of Didsbury.
1668. Collected att Didsbury y^ 7^^ of ffebruary 1688 upon y«
Breife for Captives within y® Turkish dominions the surii
of two shillings and three pence. ^
1668. February 10. Buried Misteris An, the daughter of Master
Joseph Manard,
1669. December 26. Buried a small infant of Alexander Barlow.
1672. November 16. Collected at Didsbury for a fire in the
parish of Saint Aldates ats Saint Toles, in the subburbs
of our university and city of Oxford, the suiii of three
shillings.
' Vide History of Benton Chapel, (Chetham Miscellauies, vol. ii. p. 117.)
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DinSBURY. 75
1673. May 12. Baptized Jolm, the sonnc of Mr. Robert Twyford
of Didsbury.
1G7G. November 23. Buried Master Robert Twyford.
167G. January 3. Buried Master George Wakfild of Hough Eud.
1677. April 10. Buried Edward, the sonne of Edward Mosley
Esquire.
1677. September 10. Buried ffraneis, the sonne of Edward
jNIosley Esquire.
1680. August 24. Baptized John, the sonne of Riehard Halli-
well, who was born at Manehester upon Bartlemew
day.
1685. September 13. Mr. Peter Shaw minister of Didsbury
suceeeded Mr. John Walker as minister of Didsbury
this day.
1688. September 8. Buried Nicholas, sonne of Edward Mosley
of Hulme.
1688. November 13 ('?). Buried Maister Mosley Blenn [Bland],
sonne to Sir John Blan of Kippis [Kippax] Park.
1690. Robertus filius Rob^ti Twyford de Didsbury fuit baptizatus
die 30 Septembris 1690; ejusdem loei Pastor Eeclesiae
factus 1726.
1695. July 31. Buried Sir Edward Mosley Knight; died the
22 and was buried the 31.
1697. July 14. Buried Dame Merriell Mosley, died the 8 of this
instant July, and was buried the 14 day, who was relict
to Sir Edward Mosley of Hulme Knight.
1700. June 6. Buried Mr. Henry Bancroft of Heaton Norris.
1704. March 12. Baptized Samuel, son of Mr. Henry Smith of
Heaton Norris.
1710. August 28. Married Mr. John Guy of Stockport parish,
and Mris. Worrel of Wilmesly parish by Lie.
1710. January 12. Baptized Elizabeth, daughter to Mr. Henry
Smith of Heaton.
1710. January 28. Baptized Ann, daughter to Mr. WiUiam
Broome of Chorlton.
76 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
1712. September 1. Buried Frances, daughter to S"^ John Bland
Bar* of Hulme Hall.
1712. November 5. Baptized William, sou to Mr. William
Broome of Chorlton.
1712. February 2. Married the Rev, Mr. Ellison, rector of
Ashton-upon -Mersey, and Mris. Worthington widow, of
the parish of Manchester, by Lie.
1714. September 29. Baptized Hannah, daughter of William
Broome of Chorlton.
1715. October 29. Buried S'^ John Bland Bar* of Hulme.
1717. February 13. Baptized Hildebrand, son to Hildebrand
Jacob Esq. of Hulme Hall.
1718. August 2. Married Joshua Travis, chaplain of Manchester
and Elizabeth Walker, both of the parish of Manches-
ter : by Certif. from Mr. Assheton.
1718. September 5. Buried James Lester minester oflF Didsbury
and Kiper off the Liberary at the Collich.
1719. April 24. Baptized Thomas, son of Thomas Wright
minister of Didsbury.
1720. October 19. Baptized Wilham, son of Thomas Wright
minister of Didsbury.
1721. November 21. Buried Samaull, a chance child of Mary
Beenchaw.
1723. January 12. Baptized Mary, daughter of William and
Mary Twyford of Didsbury.
1723. January 29. Baptized Willielmus filius Robti Twyford
clerici et Marise uxoris, natus S'^'o die Januarii 1723, et
vicesimo nono mensis predict fuit baptizatus, Glossop.
1724. January 30. Baptized Robert Tettlow, y'^ son of John
Tettlow minister of Birch.
1726. March 19. Baptized Martha filia Roberti Twyford clerici
et Marise uxoris, natafuit decimo tertio die Martii 1726-7,
et decimo nono baptizata.
1728. January 13. Buried Thomas Chorlton de Grundey Hill
Heaton, who left ffour pounds per aun. to Didsbury
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 77
Church for ever, to he given in Bread by the Church-
wardens each Sunday to such poor persons of the town-
ships of Heaton, Didsbury, Withington, and Burnage as
come to Divine Service. And twenty shilHngs per annum
to the School! for ever, payable out of y^ land at Gruudey
Hill.
1728. February 7. Buried George Hamson de Allikers, — sese
strangulavit.
1729. June 23. Buried Samuel Gilbody de Reddish, qui demer-
sus erat.
1729. November 29. Buried Thomas Oax, vagus ex impensu de
Heaton.
1729. INIarch 12. Buried Valeutinus filius Dominae Chatbouru,
spurius.
1730. April 5. Buried Gulielmus Twyford de Hulrae, Doctor.
1730. May 6. Baptized John Tetlow, son of y« Rev. Mr. Tetlow
min'^ of Birch.
1731. July 4. Buried Francisca filia Gulielmi Broome generosi
de Chorlton.
1731. November 22. Married Richard Broome de Manchester,
jurisconsultus, and Mary Benison of Bredbury, Stock-
port parish.
1732. February 2. Married Radolphus Henshaw de Wimslow,
clericus, and Anna Shaw de Wimslow.
1732. March 4. Buried Martha Alcock de Withingtou, apud
Conventiculum sepult.
1733. February 18. Buried Thomas Hough, a poor boy who was
shot accidentally.
1734. July 26. Buried Peter Beech, a disbanded soldier.
1734. August 3. Buried D.A.B. alias The Honourable Lady
Bland, relict of S"^ John Bland Baronett ; died July 26.
1734. December 13. Baptized Thomas, son of Mr. Charles Hob-
son of Withington.
1736. April 9. Buried Mary, wife of Mr. Charles Hobson of
Leveushulme.
78 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
1736. November 27. Buried Mr. William Broom of Cliorlton,
S'' John Bland's steward.
1736. December 2. Married Bevd. Mr. Samuel Townson curate
of Oldham and Alice Yannis of Crompton ; mar. by Lie.
1736. January 27. Buried Daniel, son to Mr. Henry Smith of
Norris Hill.
1736. March 17. Buried Mr. Richard Lankford of Withington,
Bachelor.
1737. March 13. Baptized John, son to Mr. Simister late of
Stockport.
1737. March 16. Baptized John, son to Mr, John Hall of
Heaton.
1738, April 17. Baptized Martha, daughter to Mr. Alexander
Boardman of Withington.
1738. October 18. Baptized Robert, son to Mr. Robert France
of Didsbury.
1738. February 13. Married Mr. John Siddall of Slade Hall in
this parish, and Anne Bresgirdle of Hanford in Cheadle
parish, by Lie.
1738. March 11. Buried John, the son of Mr. Robert France of
Didsbury.
1739. April 8. Baptized Joseph, son to Mr. Charles Hobson,
Levenshulme.
1739. July 19. Buried James, son to Mr. James Cox of Heaton
Moor.
1739. February 28. Baptized Mary, daughter to Mr. Alexander
Boardman of Withington.
1740. April 12. Buried Richard, son to Richard Broome of
Manchester gen.
1740. June 11. Baptized Sarah, daughter to Mr. Charles Hobson
of Levenshulme.
1741. June 20. Baptized Mary, daughter to Mr. Charles Hobson
of Levenshulme.
1743. May 8. Baptized James, son to Mr. James Cox of
Heaton.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF I)IDSI3UHY. 79
1743. January 22. ]\Iamccl John Walmslcy of Stockport parish,
and jNIary Twyford of Didsbury ; by Lie.
1744. June 28. Buried Martha, daughter to Robert Twyford
minister ; died June 25.
1744. November 4. Baptized Henry, son to Rostern Mere of
Heaton.
1745. May 4. Baptized Ann, daughter to INIr. Thomas Brierley
of Heaton Norris.
1745. July 3. JNIarried Mr. James Clough of Manchester, chap-
man, and Miss Anne Broome of Didsbury ; by Lie.
1745. July 25. Married the Rev. William Twyford and j\Iiss
Molly Broome both of Didsbury ; by License.
1745. December 10. A poor man buried at Didsbury, found dead
in Heaton when the Rebels past.
1745. January 12. Baptized Charles, son to Mr. Hobson of
Levenshulme.
1745. January 25. Buried Ehzabeth, daughter to Mr. Richard
Broome of Manchester.
1745. March 19. Buried Robert Twyford of Didsbury; buried
ith Chancil.
1746. October 28. Baptized Martha, daughter to y« Rev. Mr.
William Twyford minister reC^ y^ at Birch Ch. (she was
born on y® first day).
1746-7. March 2. Buried the Rev. Robert Twyford minister of
Didsbury.
1747. April 23. Buried Mary, wife to Richard Broome of Man-
chester gent.
1747. June 8. Buried Richard, son to Richard Broome of Man-
chester gent.
1748. May 4. Buried John Hulme of Didsbury, from y^ Peel.
1748. June 10. Baptized Mary, daughter to y^ Rev. Mr. Twyford
of Didsbury ; she was born INIay 8.
1748. December 21. Baptized Robert, son to Mr. Brierley of
Heaton.
1750. June 3. Baptized Peter, son to Charles Hobson of Levens-
hulme.
80 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
1750. March 2. Baptized Eobert, son of y^ Rev. William Twy-
ford minister of Didsbury ; born January 26.
1751. February 14. Baptized Frances, y® daughter of y^ Rev.
William Twyford of Didsbury.
1753. August 24. Buried John Hudson of Heaton Norris gent.
1754. April 17. Baptized Ann, daughter of the Rev. William
Twyford of Didsbury ; born March 26.
1754. June 7. Buried William, son of William Broome of Dids-
bury geut.
1754. September 27. Buried Martha, daughter of Mr. Board-
man late of Withington.
1755. July 2. Baptized William, son of William Broome of
Didsbury gent.
1756. May 27. Baptized Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. William
Twyford minister of Didsbury.
1758. April 12. Baptized James, son of Mr. William Broome of
Didsbury.
1758. September 5. Baptized William, son of the Rev. WiUiam
Twyford minister hujus loci ; born August 5.
1759. April 20. Baptized John, son of Mr. William Broome of
Didsbury.
1759. September 19. Baptized Richard, son of Epaphroditus
Bullock.
1760. January 18. Buried Richard Broome of Didsbury gent, an
attorney-at-law.
Two Wardens are annually elected for the chapelry — one chosen
by the minister, and the other by the inhabitants in vestry assem-
bled. Each of the four townships returns its sidesman.
1613. John Twyford. 1639. John Barlow.
Robert Brooke. John Bancroft.
1628. Laurence Barlow. 1640. John Rudd.
Nicholas Langford. John Smith.
1638. Robert Bancroft. 1641. Edmund Chorlton.
John Barlow. Thomas Rudd.
rAROCIIIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY.
81
1642.
William Langford.
1671.
Alexander Walker.
George Smyth.
William Rowbotham.
1644.
Richard Chorlton.
1672.
Richard Townley.
George Jackson.
Edward Ilulme.
1645.
Thomas Birch.
1673.
Robert Ridgway.
Nicholas Hoult.
Edward Worsley.
1652.
John Smith.
1674.
John Chorlton.
Francis Mosley.
Richard Heywood.
1653.
John Smith.
1675.
Richard Heywood.
Francis INIosley.
Peter Fletcher.
1654.
John Smith.
1678.
William Garnett.
Francis Mosley.
Edward Linney.
1655.
Jonathan Gee.
1679.
Alexander Boardman
William Rowbotham.
James Arstall.
1656.
Richard Townley.
1681.
William Birch.
Thomas Smith.
1684.
Thomas Garnett.
1658.
James Boardman.
Edmund Fletcher.
Alexander Wood.
1685.
Thomas Rydings.
1659.
William Garnett.
Edmund Fletcher.
Thomas Rydings.
1686.
Richard Thorton.
1660.
William Blomeley.
WiUiam Cotterell.
Robert Baguley.
1690.
Richard Fletcher.
1661.
Thomas Fletcher.
John Brookes.
Henry Rydings.
1691.
Richard Fletcher.
1663.
William Birch.
John Brookes.
George Fletcher.
1701.
William Blomeley.
1665.
John Seddon.
John Didsbury.
William Baguley.
1702.
Thomas Wood.
1667.
Richard Townley.
1703.
Thomas AYood.
Francis Mosley.
1704.
Joseph Alcock.
1668.
Edward Langford.
1705.
William Henshaw.
Nicholas Wood.
Nicholas Chorlton.
1669.
Nicholas Wood.
1706.
William Henshaw.
1670.
Alexander Wood.
Uriah Hoult.
Iilicholas Chorlton.
M
83
A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT \/«r?t\9c
1707. William Henshaw.
Nicholas Chorlton.
♦1708. Thomas Wood.
James Boardman.
1709. Thomas Wood.
James Boardman.
1710. Richard Oliver.
1711. Alexander Wood.
James Bailey.
1712. John Rudd.
Thomas Smith.
1715. Samuel Brown.
Thomas Breckel.
1716. Thomas Th^qrniley.
Richard Oliver.
1717. William Langford.
Edward Hampson.
1718. William Barlow.
James Scholefield.
1719. John Lamb.
1721. Edward Norris.
Richard Hampson.
1722. Edward Norris.
Richard Hampson.
1723. Henry Smith.
Thomas Blomeley.
1724. John Chorlton.
George Whitelegg.
1725. George Fletcher.
Richard Fletcher.
1726. Robert Twyford.
Thomas Garnett.
1727. Robert Twyford.
Thomas Garnett.
1728. Samuel Walker.
William Langford.
1729. John Holme.
John Shuttle worth.
1730. John Holme.
John Shuttleworth.
3 731. William Blomeley.
Alexander Boardman.
1732. Robert Twyford.
Richard Oliver.
1733. John Cheetham.
John Rudd.
1734. Thomas Birch.
John Bayley.
1735. Thomas Birch.
John Bayley.
1736. Thomas Rudd.
George Fletcher.
1737. John Shalcross.
John Hulme.
1738. William Bayley.
Samuel Chorlton.
1739. Samuel Thornhill.
Ralph Worsley.
1740. Samuel Barlow.
Thomas Garnett.
1741. Samuel Barlow.
John Boardman.
1742. John Cheetham.
Samuel Goolden.
1743. John Cheetham.
Samuel Goolden.
1744. John Hudson.
Joseph Watson.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF ]
DIDSBURY.
1745.
Richard Wyatt.
1762.
Samuel Aldford.
James Kelsall.
Ralph Hamnct.
1 746.
John Hulme.
1763.
Edward Hulme.
James Didsbury.
1764.
Thomas Blomeley.
1747.
James Davenport.
Samuel Cheetham
John Heapitt.
1765.
Ralph Worsley.
1748.
WilHam Wood.
James Jenkinson.
John Hampson.
1766.
Ralph Worsley.
1749.
Robert Twyford.
Edward Langford.
Thomas Blomcley.
1767.
John Heap.
1750.
Samuel Walker.
Joshua Watt.
William Garnett.
1768.
Alexander Goolden.
1751.
Thomas Chorlton.
James Smith.
Thomas Whitelegg.
1769.
Alexander Goolden.
1752.
Joseph Alcock.
James Smith.
Edward Langford.
1770.
Jeremiah Bibby.
1753.
Edward Norris.
William Birch.
Richard Wyatt.
1771.
John Cheetham.
1754.
John Chorlton.
Samuel My cock.
Jeremiah Barlow.
1772.
John Cheetham.
1755.
Thomas Hulme.
Samuel My cock.
Samuel Rowbotham.
1773.
John Hampson.
1756.
Robert Hesketh.
John Davenport.
John Taylor.
1774.
John Hampson.
1757.
Robert Twyford.
Samuel Butterworth
John Brundreth.
1775.
William Watson.
1758.
John Rigby.
James Golden.
Hugh Mottram.
1776.
WllHam Watson.
1759.
James Shelmerdine.
James Golden.
Robert Garside.
1777.
John Heapey.
1760.
Robert Blomeley.
John Birch.
Samuel Norris.
1778.
John Heapey.
1761.
Samuel W^alker.
Richard Jepson.
John Birch.
83
84
A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
1779.
John Heapey.
1796.
John Hampson.
John Birch.
Thomas Jepson.
1780.
Thomas Foiles.
1797.
Thomas Jepson.
Thomas Rudd.
James Smith.
1781.
Wilham Broome.
1798.
John Rudd.
James Gardner.
James Smith.
1783.
William Broome.
1799.
John Rudd.
James Gardner.
James Smith.
1783.
John Hudd.
1800.
John Rudd.
Edward Lankford.
Charles Wood.
1784.
John Rudd.
1801.
Thomas Pedley.
Edward Lankford.
1803.
John Rudd.
1785.
Thomas Wood.
Benjamin Brookes,
Thomas Tildes.
1803.
John Rudd.
1786.
Robert Linney.
Benjamin Brookes.
James Rudd.
1804.
John Rudd.
1787.
Thomas Hulme.
Benjamin Brookes.
John Orford,
1805.
John Rudd.
1788.
Thomas Hulme.
Benjamin Brookes,
John Orford.
1806.
Benjamin Brookes
1789.
Peter Taylor.
John Hilton.
John Hey wood.
1807.
John Hilton.
1790.
John Fletcher.
Thomas Rudd.
Thomas Hesketh.
1808.
Thomas Rudd.
1791.
Daniel Adkinson.
John Hilton.
Thomas Hesketh.
1809.
Samuel Goolden.
1793.
Daniel A-tkinson.
John Hilton.
Daniel Massey.
.1810.
Samuel Goolden.
1793.
Daniel Massey.
John Hilton.
Joseph Goodier.
1811.
John Hilton.
1794.
Joseph Goodier.
Samuel Goolden.
Daniel Massey.
1813.
Robert Feilden.
1795.
John Hampson.
Thomas Jepson.
Thomas Hudson.
rAROCIIIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY.
85
1813.
Robert Fcildeii.
1830.
John Wood.
Thomas Hudsou.
James Worsley.
1814.
llobert Feilden.
1831.
James Worsley.
Thomas Hudson.
Jonathan Langford
1815.
Robert Feilden.
1832.
James Worsley.
Thomas Hudson.
John Hampson.
1810.
Robert Feilden.
1833.
William Scragg.
Robert Parker.
Joseph Chadwick.
1817.
Robert Parker.
1834.
William Scragg.
George Webster.
Joseph Chadwick.
1818.
Robert Parker.
1835.
JMmjrjiornil^i^
George Webster.
John Ogden.
1819.
Robert Parker.
1836.
John Thorniley.
George Webster.
John Ogden.
1820.
George Webster.
1837.
John Thorniley.
Thomas Jepson.
John Ogden.
1821.
George Webster.
1838.
John Thorniley.
Thomas Jepson.
John Ogden.
1822.
George Webster.
1839.
John Thorniley.
Thomas Jepson.
John Ogden.
1823.
Richard Simpson.
1840.
John Thorniley.
Joseph Birley.
John Ogden.
1824.
George Webster.
1841.
John Thorniley.
Thomas ]\Iottram.
John Ogden.
1825.
George Webster.
1842.
John Thorniley.
Thomas Mottram.
John Ogden.
1826.
William Lane.
1843.
John Thorniley.
John Wood.
John Ogden.
1827.
William Lane,
1844.
John Thorniley.
John Wood.
John Ogden.
1828.
William Lane.
1845.
John Thorniley.
John Wood.
John Ogden.
1829.
William Lane.
1846.
John Thorniley.
John Wood.
John Ogden.
86
A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
1847. John Ogden.
James Bi'adburn.
1848. John Ogden.
James Bradburn.
1849. John Ogden.
James Bradburn.
1850. Herbert Birley.
William Bowden.
1851. William Hobbes.
John Tliorniley.
1852. William Hobbes.
John Tliorniley.
1853. G. F. Robinson.
John Thorniley.
1854. John Moss.
James Dorrington.
John Moss.
John Thorniley.
1855. John Moss.
Joseph Bull.
1856. John Moss.
Joseph Bull.
Extracts from the Chapel-wardens^ Accounts : —
1645. Received of George Blomeley of the church
stocke 02 00 00
Received of the sequestrators towardes the re-
paire of the chanselli 0110 00
Received of ]\Iary Wliitelegge of Gattley for the
use of the church stocke 00 07 00
1 In 16 i3 a committee was appointed by ordinance of Parliament for sequestering
" the estates of delinquents, papists, spies and intelligencers " tliroughout the king-
dom, directing moreover that all bishops, deans and other persons who have raised or
shall raise arms against the Parliament, or shall be in actual war against it, or shall
have contributed any money, arms, &c. towards the force of the enemy, shall have
their property sequestered into the hands of sequestrators and committees in this
order named. The committee for the county of Lancaster held its sittings usually at
Preston, and was composed of the following persons : Sir Ralph Asshetou, Sir Thomas
Stanley, Sir Ralph Asshetou of Downham, Ralph Assheton of Middleton Esq., Richard
Shuttleworth Esq., Alexander Rigby Esq., John Moore Esq., Richard Holland Esq.,
Edward Butterworth, Esq., John Bradshaw Esq., William Ashurst Esq., Peter
Egerton Esq., George Dodding Esq., Nicholas Cunliffe Esq., John Starkie Esq.,
Thomas Birch Esq., Thomas Fell Esq., Robert Cunhffe Gent., Robert Curwen Gent.,
and John Nowell Gent. By this new arrangement tithe ceased to be collected.
Church-lands &c. were confiscated to the State ; the clergy were paid out of the com-
mon fimd, and the cost of repairs of churches and chapels was defrayed from the
same source.
rAROClUAL ClIATKL OF DIDSIJUUY. 87
1645. Paide uuto Mris. Bradshawe for the goodes w<=i'
wee bought for Mr. Clcton 03 00 00
Paide for one pewter basson to baptise children
i^i 00 03 05
Paide for the Directorie for Mr. Bradshawe.^
Paide for three ordinances of parlement — one
for the ellectinge and chooseinge of elders,
and two for the observation of the Sabbath
and flfaste dayes 00 01 01
Paide for the booke of Deviue right of Church
Goverment 00 02 04
Spent in goinge to byre Mr. Shelmerdine 00 00 09
Laide forth to give Mr. Smith entertainment... 00 03 00
Spent to procure Mr. Marler to teach one day . 00 00 04
Paide for five sackes of mosse and the carrige. . 00 01 08
Paide in charges and in goinge to the seques-
trate and of the workemen 00 13 00
Paide unto the ringers for ringinge the firste
yeare uppon the king's holiday 00 03 00
1652. Spent upon the riugers ye fift of November ... 00 04 06
1659. Paide fi-or a diall 00 06 00
. Paide ffor lead to fasten the dial 1 00 0100
Paide to William Hunt for fitting the head of
the cross for the diall 00 00 06
Paide to the ringers the 24 of Male 00 01 00
' About this time the use of fonts in churches was discontinued as superstitious,
and it was directed that chQdreu be baptised from a bason " in the face of the congre-
gation, where the people may most conveniently see and heare, and not in the places
where fonts in the time of popery were unfitly and superstitiously placed." — See
History of the Ancient Chapel of Blackley, note, p. 81.
2 On prohibiting the further use of the Book of Common Prayer by an ordinance of
ParUament, dated January 3, 1644, it was decreed that " A Directory for the Publique
worship of God throughout the three kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland '^^
should be immediately issued, which accordingly was done. This is the " Directorie "
aUuded to in the text, and Mr. Bradshaw, for whom it was purchased, was the then
minister of Didsbury Chapel.
88 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
[At this period the Holy Communion was administered
at Didsbury four times during the year, Aaz. on Christ-
mas Day, Easter Day, Whitsunday, and Michaelmas.]
1660. Laid downe on the coronation daie 1 00 04 04
Paide to Jeferie of Gatley for fetlinge the bels . 00 02 06
1671. Spent when wee were warned to meete by y^
constables about harth-lay 2 00 01 00
Paide to y^ dark for his wages 00 05 00
Spente on Mr. Worsleye when hee preached
one day att our chappell 00 02 00
Paide for a new byar 00 16 00
Spent in goeiuge to visitt y^ alehouses at sev'all
tymes with the assistants 00 02 00
Spent on y^ ringers on y^ 29 of May, beinge y^
king's birth and restaur aeon day e 00 03 00
Form of Summons to the Minister of Didsbury to attend
the Bishop's Visitation :
To the Minister of Didsbury.
These are to give notice y*^ you make yo^' owne p'sonal
■ appearance at the Yisitacon of the Right Kev'nd ffather in
God John [Wilkins] L'l Bp. of Chester, to be holden in
the Parish Church of Manchester on Saturday the tenth
day of June next, bet^vixt the houres of nine and eleaven
in ye forenoone ; And alsoe to cite all ministers of hospi-
talls, lecturers or stipendaries and schoolemasters, alsoe all
practisers of phisic or chirurgery, likewise all ffarmers or
sequestrators of tythes, parish clerkes and midwifes,^ to
' Charies II.
" This tax was imposed by Act 15 Car. II. cap. 13, and was repealed by Act 1 William
and Mary, cap. 10. For furtlier particulars relating to the circumstances under which
it was first levied, and its extreme unpopularity, vide History of Denton Chax>el,
(Chetham MisceUauies, vol. ii.) note, pp. 99, 100.
3 The practice of granting licenses on the part of bishops at their visitations, to
surgeons and midwives, however foreign to our present ideas of episcopal duty and
rAllOCillAL CllxM'EL OF DIDSBUHY. 89
appearc at y'' time and place aforcs'i, j^n^i then and tliere
to pay all p'curacons, pcncous, synodalls and dues due and
belonging to y« s'^ L<1 Bp. by reason of his s*^ Visitacon;
and alsoc to prince, exhibite yo'" and their Lottos of Orders^
responsibility, -n-as at one time uuiversal. By Statute 3 Henry Till. cap. 11, it was
provided that, " Forasraoche as the scienee and conuyug of physyke and surg'ie, to the
p'fecte kuowlege wherof bee requisite both grete leruyng and ripe exp'ieucc, ys daily
withiu this royalme exe'cised by a grete multitude of iguoraunt p'soues of whom the
grete partie have no man' of insight in the same nor in any other kyndc of Icrnyng ;
some also can no I'res on the boke, soofiirfurth that com'on artiiic's, as smythes,
wevers and women boldely and custumably take upon theim grete curis and thyngys
of great difficultie, in the which they partely use socery and whichcrafte, partely
applie such medicyne unto the disease as be verey noyous and nothing metely ther-
fore, to the high displeasoure of God, great infamye to the faculties and the grevous
hurte, damage and destruccion of many of the kiugC liege people, most sp'ally of them
that cannot desceruc the uncuu'yng from the cunuyug — Be it therfore, to the suertie
and comfort of all man' people, by the auctoritie of thys p'seut Parliament enacted,
that noo p'sou within the citie of London nor within vij myles of the same take upon
hym to ese'cise and occupie as a phisicion or siu-gion except he be first examined and
approved and admitted by the Bisshop of London or by the Dean of Ponies for the
tyme beyng, callyng to hym or them iiij doctours of phisyk, and for surg'ie other
exp't p'sones in that facultie, and for the first examynacion such as they shall thynk
convenient, and aftward alway iiij of them that have been soo approved, upon the
payn of forfeytour for ev'y moneth that they doo occupie as phisicions or surgeons
not admitted nor examined after the tenour of thys acte of v", to be employed, the
oon half therof to thvise of our Sov'aign Lord the Kyng, and the other half therof to
any p'son that wyll sue for it by acciou of dette m which no wageom- of lawe nor
p'teccion shalbe allowed ; And ov' thys that noo p'son out of the seid citie and
p'ciucte of vij myles of the same, except he have been as is seid before approved in the
same, take upon hym to ex'cise and occupie as a phisiccion or surgeon in any diocesse
within thys royalme, but if he be first examined and approved by the bisshop of the
same diocesse, or he beyng out of the diocesse by his vicar gen' all, either of them
callyng to them such expert p'sons in the seid faculties as there discrecion shall thynk
convenyent, and gyfiyng their lett's testimonials under ther sealle to hym that they
shall soo approve upon like payn to them that occupie the cont^rie to thys acte as is
above seid to be levyed and employed after the fourme before exp'ssed. Provided al-
way that thys acte nor any thyng therin conteyned be p'judiciall to the univ'sities of
Oxford and Cantebrigge or either of them, or to any privilcgys grunted to them." In
one of the Act Books of Chester diocese an entry occurs under the date August 14,
1667, of a license granted to William Hartley of Manchester to practise " artem
chu'urg' per totam dioc' Ccst." A manuscript volume once belonging to Bishop
90 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Institucons, InducconS; ffaculties, Licenses to preach, serve
the cure, or to teache y® schoole siibscripcons to the decla-
racon mencoed in y® Act of Uniformity, and all other Li-
censes and Dispensacons whatsoever; and alsoe to cite all
chappell wardens to appeare at y^ same time and place then
and there to give in and make a full and true answ^' and
p^sentm* to the Booke of Artes herewith sent unto them.
You are alsoe to suiiion then and there to appeare all exe-
cutors, of any Wills not yet duely proved, and the occupiers
of any deced^^ estates who have not by just authority duely
administred y^ same y*^ they doe appeare and p've y'^ said
Wills and take upon them the due admracon of such
estates ; and further to doe and receive as to justice shall
appertaine. Dated the fourth daye of May anno Doiiii.
1671. GuLiEL. Wilson, Reg' Dep.
1673. Spent on Mr. Yannes and Mr. Pachy when they
preached at o"^ chappell 00 00 06
Disbursed for a tippet for the minister 01 04 02
Spent when Mr. Adams preached att o"" church 00 01 00
[Other preachers during the year were Messrs. Jackson,
Worsley and Beeley.]
Spent at Chedleboatei 00 01 06
Warburton contains, amongst various other forms, "Licentia Obstetricis." The per-
mission to exercise the vocation runs thus : "Eandem A.B. ad exercendam Artem et
OfEcium Obstetricis in et per totam diocesin Grloucestrensem proedictam admisit, et
Literas Testimonials superinde fieri decrevit." And in the Articles to be enquired
into in the province of Canterbury in the year 1571, the question is directed to be
asked — " Wliether any use charms or unlawful prayers, or invocations in Latin or
otherwise, and namelij^ midwives in tlie time of women^s travail of child." In the
oath taken by Eleanor Pead, before being licensed by the archbishop to be a midwife,
a similar clause occurs : " Also I will not iise any kind of sorcery or incantations in
the time of the travail of any woman." — Notes and Queries, vol. ii. pp. 408, 499.
1 Gatley Ford or Ferry, which before the erection of Cheadle Bridge over the
Mersey was the highway to Manchester. Over this ferry the Pretender's forces
passed on their departure from Manchester in 1745, on which occasion they seized as
TAROCniAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 01
1673. Paidc for bread att Easter, 00 00 04; gave
00 00 04 for carryinge y® wyne^
1674. Spent att the Visitation 00 01 06
1675. Spent at Didsbury when Mr. Wrigley preached. 00 0100
1677. Spent about those not chargeable with hearth-
money 00 00 04
1679. Paide ffor the woollen acte 2 00 00 06
Spent on Mr. Lomax preaching in our parson^s
absence at Wimslow on two severall occasions 00 01 02
Spent in a treat of our parson on Chirsmas Day 00 00 04
1681. Paide when Mester Yanes preached 00 00 10
— — Paide for tow peuter fflagins 00 04 00
1697. Spent when y« parson and I went to gather
money for y« church yV"^ was burnt 00 01 00
Paide a woman w^^ came w*'^ a letter of request
in y«^ parson's chamber 00 01 06
1698. Spent when Mr. Dickens was here to preach... 00 01 06
a hostage, carrying him with them as far as Derby, James Bayley of Withington
Esq., to enforce the payment of the sum of £5000, levied on the inhabitants of Man-
chester during their hasty visit.
1 The Collegiate Church of Manchester formerly supplied wme for the Easter Com-
munion at Didsbury, a custom in all probability dating from the first erection of a
chapel there, and continued down to a comparatively recent period, as appears from
subsequent entries. In the twelfth century when the cup was first withheld from the
laity, to whom the Holy Communion was administered under one kind only, it be-
came the practice to give unconsecrated wine to those who had communicated, a
custom still prevalent m some Eoman Catholic countries. This doubtless would
lead to an increased consumption of wine, and as the Eubric lays speciall stress on
the duty of communicating on Easter Day this provision made by the mother church
for the relief of the filial chapel becomes more intelligible. Similar allusion to the
providing of wine specially for the Easter Communion is found in "Inventories
and Account EoUs of the Benedictine Houses of Yarrow and Monk Wearmouth "
(Publications of the Surtees Society) : " 1370, In vino empto pro diebus festivalibus
et communione parochiauorum ad Pascha sj^ vj''."
2 An Act passed in the year 1679, directing the interment of all corpses in shrouds
of woollen, instead of linen as heretofore, and intended to encourage the woollen
manufactures of the kingdom and to lessen the importation of Imen. It was repealed
by Act 54 George III. cap. 108. —Vide History of Blacldey Chapel, note, p. 85.
92 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
1698. Spent when we gathered y^ monys for y^ ba-
nish'd Protestants ... 00 01 06
1699. Paide towards the Black 00 18 00
.^ Paide for y^ surplise when it was eaten 00 00 04°^
1700. [Strange preachers during the year, Parson Hind, Mr.
Dickins, Mr. Clayton.]
1701. [Strange preachers during the year, Mr. Ashton, Mr.
Banu, INIr. Morton, INIr. Boulton, Mr. Ash.]
Paid to the ringers when the Queen w:is pro-
claimed 00 03 01
1704. Paid when we went to Manchester about
changing the bells 00 01 06
1706. Paide when the bells were taken down 00 05 00
Paide to y^ Manchester church-wardens for
change of bellsi 20 02 00
1 In this year a question arose as to the re-castiug of the Manchester Collegiate
Church bells in consequence of one or more of them being cracked, and at a meeting
of the parishioners, convened by the churchwardens, it was resolved at once to carry
the proposition into effect. From this entry it appears that the inhabitants of
Didsbury selected certain of the now condemned Manchester beUs, for which they
gave in return a part of their own peal and the further sum of £20. Amongst the
Egertou Papers at Heaton is the following statement of the proceedings of the Man-
chester churchwardens in relation to the re -casting of their own bells :
A Eelac'on of y'^ m'rs of fact &c. of Manchesf Bells,
from the ffii-st pt. being broken to 30"' of August 1707.
To the best of my memory ab' 5 years since y^ ffifth bell was burst, by w"^'' y«
whole peale was supposed to be so disordered as to require all to be cast a new. Y«
p'ish upon it mett, w° the town of Manch' offer'd y' in case y^ bells was uewcast ov'
and above their quotas of church-lay to advance £100 if y<= p'ish thought fit, towards
adding two more bells to y'^ six old ones. Y" resoluc'on of y'= p'ish at y* convention
was not to cast any of y<^ bells but to turn y<= clapper to y'' sound sides of the burst
bell, w^'' was accordingly done ; and in y' condic'on y'^ bells rested, tho' not tuneable,
till about 20 mouths since y<> 6'" or biggest bell burst, w<^>' w"' y-^ other burst 5"', ac-
coumpting from y'"' weight (y'' charge of casting bells) was more y'^ half y'= whole sett
by 365"'. Y'= bursting of y"^ last bell happeu'd so near y'= close of y" year y' y<= church-
ward^ for that year, having not time to finish anything they should undertake of bell
matters, in y' order the bells continued till y^ new churchward" was chosen, amongst
whom it was agreed to signifye the y" p'sent circumstances of y - bells to S'' Edward
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 93
1706. Paidc when y« bells were fetched from ]\Ian-
chcster 00 10 00
Spent when y® bells were hung 00 08 00
Cooke [Colve] and S'' Jo. Egerton, by a speciall messenger for expedition (as being by
y'' estates in y'= p'isli so considerably concerned in y" charge) to desire their advise
and know y'"' will in y"-' matter. The churchward"^ obtained no answ"', but for one by
word of mouth of y"^ messenger was by y'" worthy gentlem" referr'd to Mr. Nathan
Ardcrn. To him for answ"^ they apply'd ; ho declined giving any answ"' from them,
but appeared very reserved, — askt for an acknowledgm' from y"^ churchward"* of two
p'ticular seats for y'" gentlem" beforenamed. The churchward"' did not think it in
y*' power to dispose of seats in church to p'ticular families, — told Mr. Ardcrn y' as
farr as they knew, all y^ seates in y'= body of y'= church belonged to y'^ publick, and
none had p'ticular priviledg to any seats there ; — if them worthy gentlem" had good
titles to y-^ seats the churchward"^ was not for depriving any body of y" rights any
more y" giving up those of y= publick. Nothing of ansW cou'd y^ churchwardens
gett fro Mr. Ardern then or since (as answ' to y'' I'rs) from S'' Edward or S' John,
nor can guess w' it was excepting it was the demanding of y'^ seates. The conference
abovcs'' was w"> Mr. Ardern of Saturday ; Y" y^ churchward"' told him y' the day
following they designed to give publick notice at church for calling of a p'ish meeting
to consid-- of y" bells &c. on Friday following. Mr. Ashe chaplain publisht y-^ notice
accordingly. Pursuant to it y" p'ish mett (the bells taken down in ord' for y<^ p'ish-
ioner's view), Mr. Ardern w"" some of his neighbours y" p'sent. After some debate
wheth'- y« whole sett, or only y^ two burst bells shoidd be newcast, y'' farr greaf part
of y= parish convened agreed for newcasting the six bells, and for defraying y<^ charge
at y« time assess'd y™selves 6 church-lays for y^ year 1706 as requisit for y' year's
business : (Note — a church-lay is £40, and 2 church-lays is expended for bread and
wine and com'on repaires commimibus annis.) The p'ishioners y' had argued ag" y'=
recasting all y-^ bells, and only for newcasting y*^ two burst ones, w" y<= p'ticular voices
came to be demanded by poll, refused to vote, all except Mr. Lever of Collihurst, so
y' excepting him y<^ voting p' unanimously agreed of casting y"' whole six and making
y'' order for y'^ s'' levy of six chm-ch-lays, as may and does appear upon record in y^
P'ish Book. So ended y« s*" meeting, and according to y'= s<' order y" made has y«
churchward"^ acted at y'^ own charge, and hung up an addic'on of two new bells.
Some in y<= p'ish refuses to pay y'"' lays (of v/<^^ Mr. Arderne is esteemed y'' chiefest
abett"", y^ farr greatest part of y'= refusers consisting of tennants to y" two worthy
Barr''.) Y'= churchward"' are now suing in y= Ecclical Court at Chest' some 16 or
thereab" of y« p'sons refusing to pay. The course of y"^ suite so farr has been this :
After citac'on and appearance, y<^ churchwardens, y-^ p", gave into court y"" articles,
in w*^^*", rehearsed according to form and matter of fact, y'' reasons for demanding y"
p'ticular chm-ch-layes — y"^ dcf" putt in y'"" answ" upon oath, in w"^*" they sett forth
they believe almost all y"" p"" assertions in y" articles to be false suggested. (A coppy
of y^ def'^ ausW* may be seen at Mr. Willimot's proctor a( D" Com'ons.) The p""
94 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
1706. Spent when Mr. Collier preached 00 00 09
Paid fFor a book on the thauksgiving-day 00 00 08
Paid ffor a book on the ffast-day 00 00 08
have miuuitly, I think, proved upon oath (as may appear by y'"' wittuess dep'ons) all
y<^ assertions of y'"^ articles. The churchwardens are often allarmed w"> threats of
p'hibic'ons to this court or appeales to superior. But thus y'= case now stands : Y''
def" charge of y'^ suite is p'tly if not cheifly maintained at the charge (tho' paid with
reluctance and wrested w"* cruelty) of persons, some forced and some decoyed, asso-
ciated for that end, — some whose church-lays are already paid by better considering
the matter, and some who yet have not shewed y'^selves.
The computed charge of casting y'^ six bells : li. s. d.
Imp. Their carriage to Atcham Bridge ... GS™' 3v 5^^ at 2^ 9" p-- 120"'^ 08 09 00
Their addition of weight Q"''' Qi' 12"' at 5" 12^ p"- cwt. 51 00 00
Allowance of 4^ p"- cent for waste of melting . 2""' Iv ll'i- at 5" 12« 13 03 00
Their carriage from Salop 78"^' 1^ 271'' at 3^ p-^ 120"'' 11 00 00
Their charge of casting 70 00 00
The frame and hanging 60 00 00
Mem. — Towards y<' frame wiU gett something from town
of Manch"' for rooms of two new bells to lessen this 213 12 00
charge.
The very charge had only y"^ two burst bells been cast :
Their carriage to Atcham 36"" l^ 8"' at 2^ 9=' p"- 120"" 04 13 00
Allowance of 4^ p"- cent for waste in melting . . . 1"" l- 120"' 05 02 00
Frame and hanging 60 00 00
119 15 00
To w'^'' adding the new mettall bought 51 00 00
The difference (iucludiug y<' s'' mettall added) of casting ") ^^ 17 OO
the six and the two is just )
The inhabitants of Didsbury do not appear to have been long contented with their
bargain, for in 1727 the whole peal was re-cast, as is evidenced by the bells them-
selves, which bear the following inscriptions :
1. Let us ring for the Church and the King. 1727.
2. Prosperity to all our Benefactors. 1727.
3. Lady Ann Bland and S"" John her son, benefactors. 1727.
4. Eobert Twyford, minister, 1727.
5. William Twyford and Tho* Whitelegg, churchwardens. 1727.
6. AV. Rudhall of Glocester cast us aU, 1727.
We have notice {Duca/us Lancastrice, vol. ii. p. 138) of a bell or bells at Didsbury
PAROCIIlAr. CIIAl'KL Ol' IUn.SHLM{Y. 95
1708. Spent when Thomas Garnet begecl the commu-
nion cann' 00 01 06
Spent when we did fetch y « fflagon 00 00 OG
1709. Paid on the thanksgiving-day when we con-
ducted about the parson 00 02 06
1711. Spent when y^ augmentation money was paid.. 00 01 00
1712. Spent on Christmas Day with a strange parson 00 01 00
1715. Spent with Mr. Dawson in gathering his wages 00 00 06
Spent November 5 and 16 when news came
about the victory at Preston 00 04 00
1717. Paid for ringing on King George's return 00 01 00
1727. Spent when y« yewtree was sett 00 01 03
1 728. Paid when Mr. Oldfield preached 00 01 00
[Other preachers during the year, Messrs. Bellis and
Kigby.]
early iu the reign of Queen Mary, who in the first year of her reign directed a com-
mission to proceed from the Duchy Court of Lancaster, enquiring what lands, tene-
ments, bells, chalices, plate, jewels, stocks of kine, sheep, money and other things
belonging to chantries in the county of Lancaster had been withheld by the several
religious bodies to whom they had originally belonged, in violation of a former com-
mission issued in the seventh year of Edward VI., directing their surrender to the
King. Under the head Manchester Parish occurs the chapel of Didsbury.
1 About this date four large silver flagons were presented to the Collegiate Church
of Manchester, whereupon the four pewter ones hitherto in use were given to the
chapels of Didsbury, Gorton, Newton and Stretford. The communion-plate belong-
ing to the chapel is all comparatively modern, and consists of —
1. One small silver visiting paten, " given to the Chappel of Didsbury in the parish
of Manchester, 1741."
2. One smaR silver visiting cup, inscribed " i | h Belongs to the Chapel of Dids-
bury, 1743."
3. One sHver paten, " the gift of Thomas Briarly of Heaton Norris to Didsbury
Chapel, April 10, 1743."
4. One large silver flagon, "the gift of Joseph Boardman of Manchester to the
Church of Didsbury, A.D. 1753."
5. One silver cup, the gift of Mrs. Frances Bayley to Didsbm-y Chapel, 1813.
6. One silver alms dish and two patens, given in 1841 by Thomas Darwell Esq. of
Manchester, patron.
7. There is also a silver cup, marked A. M. with a crest, a lion rampant issuing
from a coronet ; supposed to be the gift of Lady Ann Mosley. '
96 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
1734. Spent when we went to Witliington to hear
Thomas Choiiton's will read 00 01 08
1736. Gave to Withington rush-cart 2s.
[Strange preachers during the year, Messrs. Norris and
Peak.]
Paid for the serpless 12 yards of Holland £2 lis. 8d.
Spent when I went for the wine at Easter 6d.
1743. Given June 26 to y« ringers on y^ approach of
ye news of y® victory we obtained at Dettin-
o-en \ 00 01 06
1745. Gave to y« ringers when news was brought of
ye conquest over y^ rebels 00 04 00
1746. [Strange preachers during the year, Messrs. Brooke and
Hughes.]
Paid when I Avent for the wine at Easter 6d.
Paid for hay for th' parson's horse 3d.
Spent when the young parson [Rev. AVilliam Twyford]
first began to preach 2s.
The ancient Day School at Didsbury was erected time out of
memory upon a plot of land which formed part of the Barlow
Moor waste, belonging to the lord of the manor of Withington,
to whom a chief- rent of three shillings per annum was formerly
paid in respect of the premises. This chief-rent is now payable
to the Rev. Robert Mosley Fieldeu, the late Robert Fielden Esq.
having purchased it of the said lord of the manor. It received its
first endowment under the will of Sir Edward Mosley Bart., who
died in 1665, the testator's intentions being carried into effect by
his successor, Edward Mosley Esq.
An Indenture made the thirtieth day of December in the year
1685, between Edward Mosley of Hulme in the county of Lan-
caster Esq. upon the one part, and John Rudd and Thomas
Blomeley, alias Banks, both of Didsbury in the county of Lan-
caster yeomen upon the other part, — Witnesseth That the said
Edward Mosley, in pursuance and for the performing of the last
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 1)7
will and testament of Sir Edward Mosley, late of Hough End
within the said county of Lancaster, Baronet, deceased, hath
granted, bargained, sold, enfeoflcd and confirmed, and by the pre-
sent doth grant &c. unto the said John lludd and Thomas Blomc-
ley, alias Banks, all that and those several closes and parcels of
land commonly called and known by the names of Broom Field,
the Carr Meadow, and the Water Field, with their appurtenances,
situated, lying and being on the south side of the river Mersey,
reputed and taken to be within the township of Didsbury in the
manor of Withington in the said county of Lancaster, containing
by estimation four acres of land or thereabouts, be the same more
or less, heretofore in the tenure or occupation of Nicholas Liuney
deceased or of his assign or assigns, and now in the possession of
the said Edward Mosley or of his assigy. or undertenant, together
with all ways, advantages, &c. unto the same belonging (except
only common of pasture and turbary). To have and to hold the
said closes and premises to them the said John Budd and Thomas
Blomeley their heirs and assigns for ever, to the uses, intents and
purposes that the said John Rudd and Thomas Blomeley their
heirs and assigns shall and will permit the profits thereof to be
employed for the maintenance of a schoolmaster at Didsbury for
ever, so as the same schoolmaster be such as is approved of and
comes in there by the consent and good liking of the said Edward
Mosley his heirs and assigns, lords of the manor of Withington
aforesaid, yielding and paying therefor j^early unto the said Ed-
ward Mosley his heirs and assigns for ever one pepper-corn at the
feast of St. Martin the bishop in winter, if the same be demanded,
and also doing and performing all such suit and service to the
courts of the said Edward Mosley his heirs and assigns for the
manor of Withington, as other tenants of the manor use to do.
And the said Edward Mosley doth for himself, his heirs, executors
and administrators covenant and agree to and with the said John
Rudd and Thomas Blomeley, that the said Edward Mosley and
every other person and persons lawfully claiming the premises . . .
o
98 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
[illegible] . And the said Edward Mosley doth further by these
presents institute and appoint his trusty and well-beloved William
Twyford and Richard Blomeley, servants of the said Edward
Mosley, his true and lawful attorneys jointly and severally for him
and in his name to enter into the said lands aforesaid or into any
part thereof in the name of the whole, and thereof quiet and
peaceable possession and seisin to take, and afterwards the same
to make and deliver unto the said John Rudd and Thomas Blome-
ley according to the true effect and meaning of these presents :
and all and whatsoever the attorneys shall do as concerneth the
premises the said Edward Mosley doth by these presents ratify
and allow as fully and as absolutely as if he the said Edward
Mosley were personally present. — In witness whereof the parties
abovesaid interchangeably have set their hands and seals the day
and year first above written.
On the death of the trustees first nominated none were elected
to succeed them, nor was any new conveyance of the premises
made; and in 1826, when the Charity Commissioners reported, the
legal estate was found vested in J ohn Rudd of Didsbury, the great
grandson and heir of John Rudd who is mentioned in the above
recited deed, he having survived his co-trustee Thomas Blomiley.
The land thus bequeathed was let (in 1825) at an annual rent of
£37, the master receiving also the benefit of other charities given
for the support of a schoolmaster, viz. £4 from the charity of Sir
Edward Mosley Knt., £1 from Chorlton^s, and £1 from Hampson's
charity. The appointment of master was at that time claimed by
the Fielden family, principal landowners in the township ; and the
commissioners in the absence of all documentary evidence to the
contrary, and with proof before them that the right of nominating
a master had been repeatedly exercised by them without opposi-
tion, admitted their claim, remarking however at the same time
that as the charity of Sir Edward Mosley is expressly limited to
such schoolmaster as shall come in with the consent of the lord of
the manor of Withington, his approval is necessary to entitle the
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 99
master so appointed to the benefit of that charity. Formerly,
however, the uncontrolled appointment was, as it seems, vested in
the lord of the manor. In 1699 William Garnett, on resigning
the school, submitted one Henry Smith to the Bishop of Chester
for a license to hold it, — the right of nomination having been
made over to him (Garnet) for his life by Sir Edward Mosley then
lately deceased, and confirmed to him "under the hand and seal of
the worshipful Sir John Bland Kut. Bart., now lord of our manor;''
and in 1722 a similar license was granted by the Bishop to Thomas
Hudson on the nomination of Lady Ann Bland. In 1831 a new
schoolroom Avas erected adjoining the old one, which was now con-
verted into a residence for the master ; and the entire premises
were conveyed from Rudd, the representative of the surviving
trustee mentioned in the deed, to certain trustees, one of whom
was Mr. Fielden. In 1843 an infant-school was added, a school-
room and a cottage for the teacher being erected at the same time ;
towards this object Joseph Birley of Didsbury Esq. contributed
£150, and the National Society £50. In 1851 a new conveyance
of the schools was made by Mr. Fielden to the Eev. W. J. Kidd,
Hugh Birley, James Dorriugton, and William Hobbs, Esqrs.
Previous to the year 1831 the school-house had been used on
Sundays for the purposes of a Sunday school on payment of fifty-
two shillings per annum, but in that year an agreement was en-
tered into between the Sunday school committee and other inha-
bitants on the one part, and Robert Fielden Esq., John Rudd and
Joseph Rudd on the other part, which secures the use of the
school premises exclusively on every Sunday for ever as a Sunday
school for the instruction of the children within the chapelry of
Didsbury who are brought up in the religious principles of the
Established Church of England. By the said deed Mr. Fielden
renounces also the right of appointing the master which is vested
in the four trustees already enumerated and their successors for
ever.
The Charities connected with the chapelry and township are as
follows : —
100 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
1. Charity or Sir Edward Mosley Knt.
Sir Edward Mosley Knt., by Will bearing date May 24, 1695, as
appears from a recital contained in an indenture bearing date
January 25, 1753, charged his manors of Witliington and Heaton
Norris, in the county of Lancaster, with the payment of the yearly
sum of £4) to the churchwardens of the church of Didsbury, for
the use of the poor of Withington and Heaton Norris ; and also
with the payment of the like sum of £4 yearly to a schoolmaster
of Didsbury, until some lands of the like value were settled upon
them for ever.
The indenture from which the above abstract is taken, and
which was produced before the commissioners in 1826 by Robert
Eielden Esq., was made between William Fenwick Esq., a mort-
gagee in fee of the premises therein mentioned of the first part.
Sir John Bland Bart, of the second part, and Richard Broome
and William Broome of the third part; whereby, after reciting
the above-mentioned devises, and that the said Sir John Bland
was desirous of vesting the premises therein after-mentioned in
the said parties of the third part, and their heirs, in trust, to in-
demnify the said manors from the payment of the said two yearly
sums j the said William Fenwick, at the request of the said Sir
John Bland, granted to the said Richard and William Broome
and their heirs a messuage or tenement and farm, with the lands
and grounds thereto belonging, in the parish of Manchester,
then or late in the occupation of John Shuttleworth, at the
yearly rent of £14, to the intent that they should stand seised
thereof as trustees for the indemnification of the said manors
against the said yearly sums, provided that until default should be
made in the payment of the said yearly sums, the said parties of
the third part should permit the said Sir John Bland and his heirs
to receive the rents and profits of the said premises.
Whether this deed was ever revoked or not does not appear, but
the two annual sums of £4^ are now paid by Robert Fielden Esq.
in respect of such parts of his estate as were formerly parcel of the
manor of Withington. One of these sums is paid by Mr. Fielden
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 101
to the schoolmaster of Didsbury school as already mentioned.
The other sum of £4 is paid to the churchwardens of Didsbury,
for the time being, by whom it is distributed amongst poor persons
not receiving relief in the five following townships, every year in
rotation, viz., in Didsbury, Withington, Burnage, Heaton Norris
and Chorlton-with-Hardy, all of which townships are within the
manors of Withington and Heaton Norris, the three first-men-
tioned being in the chapelry of Didsbury. There are four other
townships in the manor of Withington, viz., i\Ioss-side, Rusholme,
Denton-with-Haughton and Levenshulrae, and it does not appear
upon what principle, as the distribution is extended beyond the
townships of Withington and Heaton Norris, the other townships
within the manor of Withington are excluded. — [^Commissioners'
Report, vol. xvi. pp. 193, 194.]
2. Chorlton^s Charity.
Thomas Chorlton, by Will bearing date ]\Iay 27, 1728, charged
all his messuages, lands and premises wherein he dwelt at Grundy
Hill with the payment of the clear yearly sum of £o, to commence
from the death of the survivor of his wife, or sister Mary, to the
following uses, viz., £4, part thereof to the chapelwardens of
Didsbury for the time being for ever, to be by them laid out in
bread to be given weekly in Didsbury chapel on Sunday to the
most poor and indigent people living in and belonging to the
townships of Heaton Norris, Didsbury, Withington and Burnage,
such as should come frequently to hear divine service at the said
chapel ; and the sum of twenty shillings, residue of the said sum
of £o, to the schoolmaster for the time being, of the school-house
at Barlow ]\Ioor End. Mr. John Thorniley, as the proprietor of
an estate called Grundy Hill, in the township of Heaton Norris,
pays £4 per annum to the chapelwardens, which sum, with the
produce of Boardman's charity hereafter mentioned, is by them
laid out in bread, a portion of which is distributed on every
Sunday to such poor persons of the four townships mentioned in
the will of the testator as attend divine service at Didsbury chapel.
102 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
The remaining £1 is paid to the schoolmaster of Didsbury school
as already mentioned. — \_Ib. p. 194.]
3. BOARDMAN^S ChARITY.
Sergeant Boardman, by will bearing date March 4, 1768, gave
to Edward Place, James Greatrix and his wife Dorothy Boardman
<3850 on trust, that they should invest the same in the purchase of
a yearly rent-charge or of bank-stock, and thereupon settle the
said rent-charge or the said stock to the use of the minister and
chapelwardens of the ancient chapel of Didsbury in the parish of
Manchester, called Didsbury church, for the time being; the
annual produce thereof to be by them laid out and given in bread
in Didsbury chapel on every Sunday, to such of the most poor
and indigent people living in and belonging to the several town-
ships of Didsbury, Withington, Heaton Norris and Burnage, such
as should come frequently to hear divine service at Didsbury
chapel, as they in their discretion should think fit.^
The above sum was laid out in the purchase of £102 lis. 2d.
stock, in the three per cent consols, now standing in the name of
the Rev. John Newton. The dividends, amounting to £3 Is. 6d.
per annum, are received by Messrs. Jones and Loyd, bankers of
Manchester, by whom they are paid to the chapelwardens, and
bestowed in the manner already stated in the account of the pre-
ceding charity. — [lb. pp. 194, 195.]
4. Bland and Linney's Charity.
By Indentures of Lease and Release, bearing date September
28 and 29, 1775, between William Broome the elder of the one
^ The testator's intentions were all but frustrated by the too great precipitancy of
the acting executor Mr. Edward Place, who paid over to the residuary legatee the
residue of the testator's effects without having first discharged this legacy. On
being applied to, Mr. Place justified its continued non-payment by a reference to the
statute of Mortmain (9 George II. cap. 36.) A case was drawn up and submitted to
Mr. Arderue, who gave his opinion in favour of the poor. After much delay and the
obtaiuing of a second legal opinion which confirmed the first, the bequest was at
length paid.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 103
jiart, and the Rev. William Twyford clerk, James Goolden,
Richard Watson and four others of the other part, — It is wit-
nessed, that in consideration of £100 (being the sum given by
Dame Ann Bland, to be placed at interest or invested in the pur-
chase of land, the yearly produce thereof to be applied for the
benefit of poor housekeepers within the townships of Withington,
Didsbury, Chorlton, Burn age and Ileaton Norris), and also of the
sum of £100 (being a legacy bequeathed by the will of Thomas
Linney, to be invested in parliamentary funds or other securities,
and the produce thereof paid from time to time amongst such poor
of the parish of Didsbury as were thereinafter particularly de-
scribed), the said William Broome granted to the said William
Twyford and others of the second part their heirs and assigns, a
close of meadow land situate in Didsbury, called Twyford^s Wharth,
containing by estimation two acres of seven yards to the perch,
bounded as therein described, upon trust, that they should receive
the clear rents and profits thereof, and apply the same as follows,
viz., one moiety thereof amongst such poor housekeepers belong-
ing to or residing within the said several townships alternately as
should not be under the common relief of alms, and who by sick-
ness or any other indisposition, or accident, or age, or a numerous
familj^, should be deemed by the said trustees most proper objects
to receive the same, according to the intent of the said Dame Ann
Bland ; and the other moiety to the said William Twyford clerk,
and the said James Gouklen and AVilliam Watson, minister and
churchwardens of the chapel of Didsbury, and their successors,
upon trust, to be by them applied yearly amongst such poor of
Didsbury aforesaid, as should not be under the common reHef of
alms, and who by sickness, accident, age, or a numerous family,
should be deemed by the said minister and churchwardens and
their successors to be the most proper objects to receive the same,
according to the will of the said Thomas Linney, with a power to
the survivors of appointing new trustees when their number should
be reduced to three.
The trustees mentioned in the above abstracted deed, of whom
104 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Kichard Watson was the survivor, being all dead, the church-
wardens have had the management of the charity. The close
containing about two acres, customary measure, is in the occupa-
tion of Joseph Reddish as yearly tenant at the rent of £13, which
is considered to be its fair value.
The rent is paid to the churchwardens, who dispose of the same
usually in the purchase of clothing or blankets, which they distri-
bute in the course of the winter amongst poor householders not
receiving parochial relief. The distribution of one moiety is con-
fined to the township of Didsbury ; the other moiety is disposed
of in the townships of Didsbury, Withington, Burnage, Chorlton
and Heaton Norris, every year in rotation. — [lb. p. 195.]
5. Hampson's Charity.
By Indenture bearing date August 17, 1811, between Mary
Broome, widow of AVilliam Broome the surviving executor of
William Broome, who was the surviving executor of Edward
Hampson deceased of the one part and Robert Fielden Esq. of
the other part, reciting that Edward Hampson, by will dated Feb-
ruary 24, 1756, directed his executors to keep out at interest the
sum of £400, and to pay the interest thereof to his wife during
her widowhood, but in case she should marry, to pay to her the
yearly sum of <£5 only, and the surplus to certain legatees therein
named ; and that after the decease of his said wife he thereby gave
certain legacies, to be paid out of the said sum of £400, and the
residue thereof to his executors, to be appUed to the several uses
mentioned in a paper to his will annexed; and further reciting
that by the paper annexed to the said will, and dated the same
day, the said testator directed that his executors should dispose of
the residue of the said sum of £400, either in the purchase of
lands or otherwise, as to them should seem meet, the income
thereof to be applied as follows : to wit — to the preaching min-
ister at Didsbury £1 ; to the schoolmaster of Didsbury £1 ; to
the singers of Didsbury Chapel £1 ; and the remainder to such
further uses as his said executors should think fit; and further
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 105
reciting that the said residue amouuted to .ClOO and no more, and
that the said sura of £100 had come to the hands of the said IMary
Broome, and that she was desirous to pay that sum for the uses
aforesaid to the said Robert Ficlden, who had agreed to take the
same ; the said Robert Fielden, in consideration of the said sum of
£100 paid to him by the said INIary Broome, covenanted for him-
self, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, to dispose of
the said sum according to the trusts declared in the will of the
said Edward Hampson, and also to indemnify the said Mary
Broome from the payment of the said sum or the interest thereof.
The deed, of which the above is an abstract, is in the possession
of Robert Fielden Esq., in whose hands the sum of £100 still re-
mains. But as this deed is the only security given for the money,
we (the commissioners) suggested to him the propriety of at least
giving a copy thereof to the officers of the township, with an ac-
knowledgment that the original was in his custody.
For the sum of £100 Mr. Fielden has hitherto paid interest at
the rate of five per cent. He stated however that it was his in-
tention to place the money out as soon as an opportunity should
occur.
The three several yearly sums of £1 are paid as directed by the
testator ; and ]\Ir. Fielden states that he has distributed £2 annu-
ally at Christmas with other money from his own private funds,
principally in clothing, amongst poor persons within the chapelry
of Didsbury.
It seems desirable that an account should be kept of the distri-
bution to the poor, distinct from the money disposed of by Mr.
Fielden from his private funds. — [lb. p. 196.]
6. FiELDEN^s Charity.
By Indenture bearing date jNIarch 25, 1835, Sarah Fielden of
Didsbury in the county of Lancaster, relict and widow of Robert
Fielden late of the same place Esquire, deceased, assigned unto
Oswald Fielden, his executors, administrators and assigns the sum
of one hundred pounds on trust, that the said Oswald Fielden, his
V
106 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
executors &c. shall upon the first INIonday in December every year
pay and apply the interest, dividends and annual produce thereof
in furnishing and providing six such poor persons, being inhabit-
ants of the village of Didsbury in the county of Lancaster, as the
clergyman of the church thereof shall appoint, with such quantities
of coals as he may order and direct.
The above-named amount is lent on mortgage to the trustees of
the Manchester and Wilmslow turnpike road, and the interest ap-
plied according to the directions given in the deed.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 107
TOWNSHIP OF WITHINGTON.
This township, situated within the chapchy of Didsbury, lies
three miles and a half south of Manchester, and is Ijoundcd on the
north by Moss-side, on the south by Didsbury, on the east by
Rusholme and Burnage, and on the west by Chorlton-eum- Hardy.
It derives its name most probably from one of its aneient cha-
racteristic features — the marshy nature of its soil — being, as its
name denotes, the toAvn or hamlet of the ivithe or willow, which
from the peculiarity of soil adverted to flourished there in great
abundance. Kemble however, a great authority in such matters,
derives it from the Saxon patronymic Widingas.
Withington possessed the style and title of a manor and had
its corresponding privileges ; the limits of the manor greatly ex-
ceeded those of the township, embracing the hamlets of Withing-
ton, Didsbury, Burnage, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Moss-side, Rush-
olme, Denton, Haughton and Levenshulme. Its orthography is
not less unsettled than is that of Didsbury, appearing in early re-
cords as Withton, Witheton, Witinton, Withiutone, Whittinton,
Whythynton, Wethington, Withrington, &c.
In the reign of Edward I. the Abbot of Cokersand was cited to
appear before the King to show by what authority he claimed
waifs, ingfangenthef (the judging of a thief arraigned within the
lord's fee), and the assize of bread and ale in Withington and
Chorlton, and also to exhibit the ground of the exemption he now
claimed for himself and his monks from fines and amercements
appertaining to the Crown, and for which exemption no license
was known to exist. His plea was not admitted. ^
1 Abbas de Cokersaund sum' fuit ad respondend. d'uo Ecgi quo waranto clam' h're
weyf infangentlief & emendas assifs panis & c'vis fracte in ... . Cherltoii, Wythington
&c. et quo warranto clam' esse quietus de com'ibus finibus & amerciamentis com' & de
sectis comitatuu & wapentach' pro se & hom'ibus suis de villis predictis que ad
coronam & dignitatem d'ni Regis p'tinent sine licencia & voluntate ip'ius d'ni Regis &
p'genitor' suor' Regum Angl. — Flacita de Quo Warranto Soils, p. 379.
108 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
From the Inquisition p. m. of Robert Grelle in the 10 Edward I.
(1281) we learn that the said Robert died seised of Withrington
township and also of Manchester and its church. During his life-
time he granted to Matthew de Hathersage, in consideration of
the service of one knight's fee, the manor of Withington, wholly
or in part held by himself from Ferrars, Earl of Derby, the latter
being tenant in chief of the King.i The names of two other pro-
prietors at this early period have reached us, namely, Adam de Iseni,
who held by military service five carucates of land in Withington,
which he gave to Gilbert, son of Reinfridus, and secondly, the heir
of Robert, son of Gilmuth, who in this reign held one carucate of
land for which he paid forty pence.^
Early in the fourteenth century the family of Norris, holding
lands in the adjacent township of Heaton Norris, were also landed
proprietors in Withington. Wilham le Norreis in 1308 granted
to his brother Alexander his lands &c. in Withington. ^ About
this time certain estates in the township were in the possession
of the Barlows of Barlow Hall in Chorlton. Henry, son of
Alexander de Barlow, gave in 1311 to William de Honford lands
&c. in the town of Withinton, which being inherited by his suc-
cessors were transmitted by Henry de Honford to his son Richard.
To this latter deed of conveyance there is no date affixed, but it is
attested by Geoffrey de Chetham, at that time seneschal of ISIan-
chester, Hugh de Phitun, Robert de Hulton, Richard de Trafford,
and Robert de Redish.* These lands were probably either con-
1 Matlms de Hav'seg' tenet unu feodu milit' in Wythinton de feodo Thorn' le
Gretley, & ip'e de feodo com' de Ferrar' & ip'e m capite de d'uo Eege. — Testa de
Nevill.
~ Adam de Iseni tenet v caruc' terre in Wythington p' servic' militare quas dedit
Gilb'to fir Eeiufridi. Heres Rob'ti filii Gilmuth' teu' una caruc' terre in Wytington
& reddit p' annu xl den. — Testa de Nevill.
3 Eo-o W^ le Norreis dedi Alex'o fr'i meo ten'ta mea in Withinton. Dat. ap'^ Den-
ton 2 Edw. II. (1308). — ^arZ. MSS. 2112, fo. 149.
■* Univ'sis &c. Henr' f. Alex' de Barlow cone' W de Honford jus &c. in villa de
Withinton. Test' Henr' de TrafTord mil' ; Galfr' de Chaderton ; Eic' de Moston ;
Eog' de Barlow &c. Dat. ap*^ Manchest' 5 Edw. II. (1311). Sari. MSS. 2112, fo.
165.
Ego Henr' de Honford dedi Eic'o fil' meo ter' in vil' de Withinton. Test'
PAROCHIAL CIIArKL OF DIUSBUIIY. 109
veyed in trust or were but a part of tlie Barlow estate in the town-
ship, for by a deed executed 3rd December, 6 Edward IV. (14G6),
Nicholas Barlow conveys to Alexander Barlow his son all his lands
&c. in AVithington and elsewhere in Lancashire which lately ap-
pertained to his father John de Barlow ;i and a century and a half
later we have evidence of the continued interest of this family in
the township in the Inquisition p. m. of Sir Alexander Barlow of
Barlow Hall 18 James I. (1620.)
In 1364-5 Roger de Mamcester and Geofirey de Bexwyck,
chaplains of Manchester, convey to Thurstan de Holand certain
messuages in Wythingtou.^
Withington, though in itself a manor, was included in the lower
bailiwick of the barony of Manchester, and was required to con-
tribute towards the maintenance of the lord's bailiff and his four
under-bailiffs in their general oversight of the manor.
From the extent and survey of the manor of Manchester, taken
in 1322, it appears that in the lord's wood at Heton [Norres]
there are seventy acres of pasture in common for the tenants of
Heton and Withington and their members, with six weeks' time of
pannage.
The lord of Withington was by ancient tenure bound to assist
the lord of Manchester in the administration of justice in his se-
veral manor-courts, which from their distance apart rendered the
presence of the chief lord in person at times impossible. This
obligation as it affects Withington is recited as early as the reign
of Henry III., and is then declared as " ancient service."^
Towards the close of the reign of Henry III. the Lancashire
estates of the Hathersages passed by descent to the Longfords of
Longford, county of Derby, on the marriage of Sir Nigel de Long-
Galfr' de Clietham t'nc sen'" de Mancestr ; D'no Hug' de Phitun ; Eob' de Hulton ;
Eic' de Trafford ; Eob. de Uedish.—Sarl MSS. 2112 fo. 165,
> Ego Nichoir Barlow dedi Alex'o Barlow f. meo o'ia ten' ter' &c. q' nuper fuer' Jo
de Barlow p'ris mei in Withington sen alibi in co' Lane, Dat. 3 Dec. 6 Edw. IV.
(I'l66).—Sarl. 3£SS. 2112, fo. 174.
2 Foundations in 3Ianchester, vol. iv. p. 109.
3 Math's fir Will'i & Eog'us fil' Will'i tenet feodu uni' milit' de Eob'to Grcdle in
Wythinton de antiquitate & debent invenire j judice d'no Eegi. — Testa de KeviU.
110 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
ford with Cecilia, daughter and coheiress of Matthew de Hather-
sage. The Longfords, as did their predecessors the Hathersages,
continued to hold their lands as tenants of the Wests, Lords De la
Warre, themselves tenants in capite. An Inquisition p. m., taken
in the 22 Edward IV. (1482) on the death of Richard West, Lord
De la Warre, finds the said Richard seised at the time of his
death in his demesne as of fee of the manor of Manchester, with
the hamlets of Withington, Denton, Openshagh, Cleyton, Ard-
wike, Blakeley and Gorton. The issue of this marriage with the
coheiress of the Hathersages was two sons, Oliver and William —
the former of whom married, according to Dodsworth, Agnes, the
daughter of Ralph de Horbury (marriage covenant dated 44
Henry III.), and dying in the 12 Edward I., as appears from his
Inquisition p. m. of that date, was succeeded by his son John, then
in his minority. William de Longford, the younger brother of
Oliver, was prior of the monastery of Kenil worth.
In an enumeration of the Duke of Lancaster's tenants in 1311
it is declared that Nicholas de Longford holds of the lord of Man-
chester one knight's fee in Withington, the same which Matthew
de Hathersage once possessed.
Sir Nicholas de Longford Knt., whose Inquisition p. m. is dated
37 Edward III. (1373), married Alice, daughter and coheiress of
Sir Roger Deyncourt Knt. At his death he was found seised of
the manor of Withington, which he held from Lord De la Warre.
Sir Nicholas de Longford Knt., grandson of the preceding, was
high sheriflf of Lancashire in the 1 Henry V. (1413.) He accom-
panied the King in his invasion of France, and fought by his side
at the battle of Agincourt in 1415. ^ He died in the following year.
The name of his wife as it appears in the annexed pedigree, and is
confirmed in a descent of the family given by Dodsworth (vol. Ixxxii.
fol. 16), was Joan Warren, whereas in the inquisition she is styled
Alice, and Dodsworth himself elsewhere (vol, Ixxxvii. fo. 92) calls her
by the latter name, — a statement reconcileable with the supposition
that Sir Nicholas was twice married. On the 24th March 4 Henry
V. (1416) Sir John de Stanley Knt. discovers through his own offi-
1 Harl. 31 S. 72.
rAROCIIIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. Ill
cialsj on the King's behalf, that Sir Nicholas de Longford, then
recently deceased, held from the King in capite as of the duchy
of Lancaster the manor of "Withington, whereof he was seised on
the day of his death, which right of the King in the manor afore-
said had hitherto been concealed. The King, in recompense of
the labour and trouble of the said Sir John in that behalf, com-
mitted to him, by writ of mainprise of Sir Henry le Norreys and
Thomas de Bradshaw of Ilaigh, the custody of the aforesaid manor,
except lands and rents to the yearly value of twenty marks which
Alice, late wife of the above named Nicholas, has for the term of
her life out of the said manor by grant from Sir Nicholas de
Longford Knt., father of the aforesaid Nicholas, and excepting
also the dower of the said Alice, and also lands and rents to the
annual value of twenty marks which Ralph, son and heir of the
aforesaid Nicholas the younger and Margaret his wife have in the
said manor for the term of their lives, — the said Sir John Stanley
to hold the same until the heir reaches his full age, rendering
therefor to the King an annual tribute of thirty-five marks. ^
Sir Ralph Longford Knt., son and heir of Sir Nicholas Long-
ford the younger, died, as appears from his Inquisition p. m., in the
10 Henry VI. (1431) ; he was seised at his death of the manor of
Withington, which he held of Reginald West, Lord De la Warre.
In the pedigree annexed, as also in that given by Dodsworth (vol.
Ixxxii. fol. 16), Sir Ralph Longford is represented as marrying
Margaret INIelton, whilst elsewhere, in his manuscript extracts
from the Archbishops' Registers at York (Dodsworth, vol. xxviii.
' Joh'es de Stanley mil' cus'tibus suis p'priis fecit inTeniri pro Rege q'd Nich'us de
Longford ch'r def ''^ ten' de Rege in cap' ut de Duo' suo Lane' maner' de Wythington die
quo ob' q'd jus D'ni Regis in maner' p'd'c'o hue usq. fuit concelatum. Rex in recom-
pensacoem expensar' & assidui laboris p'd'c'i Joh'is in hac p'te commisit eid' Joh'i p'
manucap' Henr. le Norreys ch'r &Tho. de Bradschagh de Haghe, custod' maner' p'd'c'i
cii p'tin' except' 20 m'catis t'rse & red' p' an. q's Alicia que fuit us' p'd'c'i Nich'i het ad
term' vite in eod' maner' ex concess' Nich'i de L. mil' p'ris p'd'c'i Nich'i & except' dote
ejusd' Ahc' & except' 20 m'catis t're & red' p' an. q's Rad'us f. & h. p'd'c'i Nich'i lUii
& Margareta uxor ejus tenent ad vitam eor'd' in p'd'c'o maner' usq' ad plan' set. p'd'c'i
hse'd', redd' inde nob' 35 m'cas p' an. Dat. 24 M'tii 4 H. 5. — Dodsworth, vol. Ixxxvii,
fo. 92.
112 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
fol. 242), it is said " Nichus Langford miles duxit in uxem Mar-
garetam Melton in ecclia de Aston Oct. 1, 1472/'
Sir Ralph Longford was followed by a son bearing tbe same
name, who died, 1 February 5 Henry VIII. (1513) seised of the
manors of Withington and The Hough, and also of lands in I)ids-
b'lry, having married Isabel, daughter of Sir Thomas Ferrers Knt.
His son Nicholas married Margery, daughter of Sir Edmund
Trafford of Trafford Knt., and dying in his father's lifetime left a
son Ralph, who succeeded to the estates on the death of his
grandfather in 1513, being then four years of age. Ralph Longford
Esq. married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Anthony Fitzherbert Knt.,
and at his death left his estates to his son Nicholas, the last heir
male of the family, who died without issue in the year 1610. His
sisters and coheiresses, Elizabeth and Matilda, married — the one
Humphrey Dethick of Newhall Esq., and the other first Sir
George Vernon of Haddon, county of Derby, Knt., and secondly,
Francis Hastings Esq.
The manor of Withington, which, notwithstanding Dodsworth's
assertion to the contrary, the Longfords held by subinfeudation
of the Grelles and Wests, the successive lords in capite, and not
directly from the King, remained in the family until the close of
the sixteenth century, when it passed by purchase to Sir Nicholas
Mosley Knt.
Old Hall, or The Hough, situated about the centre of the town-
ship at the eastern extremity of Hough End Clough, was a seat
of the Longfords, being the ancient manor-house. The family,
it is conjectured, resided chiefly on their other estates, but their
occasional residence here is inferred from a casual remark of Hol-
lingworth, when speaking of "Thomas Langford the famous his-
torian, a Dominican friar, of Chelmsford in Essex," he describes
him as "supposed to be one of the Langfords of The Hough."^
The house, which is of brick, has been rebuilt, and is now con-
verted into a farm-house ; it was anciently surrounded by a moat
which in part remains, the only evidence of its former pretensions,
the buildings themselves being entirely modern.
' HoUiugworth's 3Ia>icuniensis, p. 35.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY.
113
of ILontjforti co. Bcvbjj, anti of tEljt Itjougfj co. ilanr.
(From Visitation of Derbyshire by William Flower, Norroy, and Robert Glover, Portcullis, 1569;
xvith some additions by Ralph Brooke, d^-c.— Harl. MS. 806, fol. 10 J
Nigel de Longford of Longford, ==
CO. Derby.
Nicholas de Longford=
Nigel de Longford =
Nigel de Longford ==CeciIia, dau. and coh. of Matthew
de Hatliersage.
Sir Oliver de Longford=
William, Prior of
Kenilwortli.
Sir John de Longford= Joan
Sir Nicholas de Longford= Alice, sister of Edward Butler.
Sir Nicholas de Longford=Alice, dau. and coh. of Roger Deyncourt.
Elizabeth, marr. Thomas,
son of Sir Thomas Fol-
jamb Kut.
Sir Nicholas de Longford = Margaret, dau. of Sir Edmund Appleby, and heir to her mother
Agnes, sister and heir to Sir John Solney.
Sir Nicholas de Longford=Joan, dau. of Warren. Henry. Ralph. Alured, Par-
j ' son of Long-
Sir Ralph Longford= Margaret, dau. of Melton. Joane, wife of John, son and heir
I of Sir John Stanley Knt.
Sir Ralph Longford=Isabel,dau.of Edmund. Margaret=Humphrey Sir Nicholas L. = Margery
Sir Henry Richard. Bradburne
[Thomas] Joane. Esq. ob.s.p!
Ferrers.
Nicholas Longford, =Margery, dau of Sir
ob vit. pat.
Edmund Traft'ord
of Traftord Knt.
1
Elizabeth,
1 1
Henry.
John.
Margaret, 2d wife of
wife of Sir
Thomas.
William.
Sir John M.irk-
Edmund
ham of Uoatham,
Trafford.
CO. Notts, Knt.
Sir Ralph Longford =Dorothy, dau. of Sir Anthony
I Fitzherbert Knt.
Elizabeth, =Huniphrey Dethic Margery. Nicholas Longford, =Eliz.abeth,dau.of Maud, wife of (1) Sir
ofNewhallEsq. living in 1567. Ralph Olteover George Vernon of
' _^ of Okeover, co.
Derby, Esq.
Katharine, dau. and heiress,
wife of Alexander Reddish
of Reddish Esq.
Haddon,co.De;by,
Knt., and (2) Fran-
cis Hastings Esq.
brother of the Earl
of Huntingdon.
Q
114 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
ISTot less ancient than the Hathersages and Longfords is the
family of Withington, which takes its name from this township.
Of the existence in early times of a family thus designated we
are assured on the testimony of ancient records connected with the
county. Thomas de Grelle, in an undated deed^ grants to Richard
de Wythinton and his heirs seven acres of land in Swinton, within
the following limits, beginning where Tordalesik falls into Calde-
brok, and so ascending Caldebrok as far as the well dug in the
direction of Preestesplatteford, and so following to another well,
and so from that other well across to the ditch of Roger clerk of
Maunton, except three roods at the entrance and outlet, and so
descending to the hay of Richard the Rhymer, and so following the
said hay into Caldebrok.^
By a deed executed on the day of St. Philip and St. James 1284,
Alice de Wythyngton, late wife of Richard de Wythyngton, releases
to the Abbot of Stanlawe, amongst other lands her right and title
to eight acres called Wythynton-heye beyond the boundary of
Wythynton.2 And we have additional evidence of the fact in an
undated quit-claim from John de Wythynton of certain lands in
Westwood.3
Thomas de Wythington held lands of Robert de Grelle in the
reign of Edward I., by military service, the tenure even then de-
clared to be of ancient date*
The name of William son of Wulfrith de Withinton also occurs
in an undated deed of the Lightbowne family {Harl. MSS. 2,112,
fo. 165) as contesting with Adam brother of Gospatric de Chorlton
the claim of the latter to lands in the township.
With such scanty memorials it is not easy to connect the several
names thus given ; but they serve nevertheless to attest the fact
that such a family existed in the township at a very early period,
where even the name still lingers.
Holt Hall or The Holte in Withington was anciently a seat of
1 Coucher Boole of Whallei/, pp. 910, 911. " lb. pp. 911, 912. 3 jb_ p. 912.
■* Thomas de Wytbiiigton tenet feod' di' milit' de eod' Rob'to [Grrelle] de autiqui-
tate. — Testa de Nevill.
PAROCUIAL CllAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 115
the Bamford family, whose chief estate was at Bamford near ]\Iid-
dleton, in the same county. Holt "Wood, in the north-west corner
of the township, near to the Independent College, seems to have
been a portion of the original demesne. At what time and under
what circumstances they first obtained a settlement in the town-
ship there is now no evidence to show. Richard de Bamford held
lands in Withington, Barton, Middleton, Spotland, Bury, &c., in
the 25 Henry VI. (1446) ; shortly after which date they mar-
ried into the influential local family of Longford. An indenture
made the 16th November in the 18 Edward IV. (1478) between Sir
Nicholas Longford Knt. and Bartin Bamford gent, witnesses "y* hit
is covennted and agrede by twene the seid pties that John son and
heire of the seid Bartyne shall by the g^ce of God be fore the fest
of Seynt Audrewe the Appostell next comyng wedd and take to
wyfiF ]Marg^ie Longforth suster unto the seid S' NichoU ; and the
seid Marg^ie shall by the g^ce of God wedde and take to husbond
the seid John before the seid fest : And the seid Bartyne g'unteth
by this psentes that he shall make or cause to be made withyn xl
dales after the seid mariage unto the seid John and Marg^ie a sure
sufficient and lawfull astate of landes and testes to the yerly
value of xls of lawfull money of England oV all charges and
reposes, in Gorton, called the xl acres to have and to hold unto
the seid John and ^Marg^ie and to the heires by twene theym too
lawfully bcgotan, the remaynder y^of to the righte heires of the
seid John the son ; and also the same Bartyne g"unteth by y°«
psentes y* all oder his landes and tehtes that he hath or any oder
man to his use hath shall immediately after his decesse remayne
and come unto the seid John the son and his heires in fe symple
or fe taill; and also the seid Bartyne g'unteth by y^^ psentes y*
he shall leefl" unto the seid John his son in contyne and immedi-
ately after his decesse landes and tehtes to the yerly valewe of
viijii and all charges the which shall come to the seid John and to
his heires without the xl^ of tylebrod be fore g'unted : Also the
same Bartyne g'unteth v^ duryng his Hfie ; he shall fiynd the seid
John his son and Margie mete and drynk sufficient, and a cham-
116 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
ber convenyent for his seid son and Marg^ie his wiffe to rest yn
and to be logged yn; ffor the which mariage and covenntes to be
kepte on the pte of the seid Bartyn the seid S"" Nicholl g"unteth to
pay unto the seid Bartyn xx markes in man and forme as ffo-
loweth, that is to say, the day of mariage vj^i xiij^ iiijf^ and v markes
at the fest of seynt John Baptist next comyng, and v markes at
the fest of seynt Martyn in wynt then next ffolowyng, and for the
payment of this x markes at the seid fest of seynt John and seynt
Martyn the seid S"" Nicholl Longforth, Rauffe Longforth his broder
and Eliece of Prestwich have bounden theym in ij oblig as hit
appereth by the same ; and for all the soleinities a bove seid to be
kepte and pformed on the pte of the seid Bartyne, the same Bar-
tyne, John Platte and Witt Birche have bounden theym unto the
seid S"^ Nich. in an oblig of c^^ like as the same oblig specifieth.
It witnesse of all the seid soleinities as well the seid S"" Nicholl
Longforthe Knyghte as the seid Bartyne be fore Thomas ffytoii
and and oder entchaungeable have set herunto y'" seales the
day and yere a bove seid."
There is also another marriage-covenant dated 8tli May 10
Henry YIII. (1518) between George Bamford of the Holte in the
county of Lancaster gent, and Richard Scolfeld of Stakchill in the
same county gent., which witnesses the intended marriage of John
Bamford sou and heir of the said George, and Margaret Scolfeld
daughter of the said Richard ; the marriage to take place " before
the ffeste of seynt Marten in wynt next ensuing." The wife's
jointure is specified, and consisted of a certain messuage with its
appurtenances in Rusholme, then in the occupation of Richard
Hunt; a certain close called Wode hedde, with the woods there-
unto belonging, situated in Holt ; a certain close called Colt-
heys in Holt aforesaid ; a meadow called Gosclache meadow in
Rusholme ; and half an acre of land in Rusholme meadow. A
covenant of the same date intimates also the approaching marriage
of Robert Scolfeld, son and heir of the above-named Richard, with
Jenet Bamford, daughter of the said George Bamford.
John Bamford Esq., who died August 20, 1557, was the last
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DlDSiiUllY. 117
heir male who held the Withington estates of his family. He
died leaving an only danghter his heiress^ afterwards the wife of
George Birch of Birch gent., to whom at his death they were
bequeathed. His inquisition post mortem was taken at Wigan on
Thursday the second of July 4 Elizabeth (1561), before Ralph
Worsley Esq. eschaetor, under the oath of John Bradshaw Esq.,
William Radcliffc gent., Richard Hunt gent., Thomas Assheton
gent., George Latham gent., Adam Pilkington gent., Roger
Brownelawe gent., John Taylor gent., Alexander Wardle gent.,
Ralph Cudworth gent., Richard Ramsbotham gent., Lawrence
Rostherne gent., and Thomas Wood gent. It commences by re-
citing the marriage-settlement of John Bamford and Margaret
Scolfeld, dated the 10 Heury VIII. It proceeds to state that the
said John Bamford was seised the day of his death in his demesne
as of fee, of and in one capital messuage called Holt Hall, fifteen
acres of land, twelve acres of meadow, twenty acres of pasture, six
acres of wood, twenty-four acres of gorse-land and heath-land,
with their appurtenances, situated in Rusholme within Withing-
ton, in the county of Lancaster ; one messuage, twenty acres of
land, ten acres of meadow, twenty acres of pasture and twenty
acres of moor-land, with their appurtenances, in Spotland, in the
county aforesaid ; one messuage, sixteen acres of land, ten acres
of meadow, twenty acres of pasture, with their appurtenances,
called Bamford, in Middleton in the county aforesaid ; and twenty
acres of land, ten acres of meadow, and ten acres of pasture, called
the Forty Acres, in Gorton, within IManchester, in the county afore-
said. Then follow the particulars of the dower of Anne, wife of
Thomas Birch, and late wife of the above-named John Bamford.
The jurors declare on oath that the aforesaid capital messuage
called Holte Hail, and the other premises in Rusholme and Holt
within Withington, are held, and at the time of the death of the
aforesaid John Bamford were held, of and from ^N^icholas Longford
Esq. as of his manor of Hough, in soecage, namely, by fealty and
an annual rent of twelvepence ; and that the said messuage, lands
and tenements in Rusholme and Holt, granted as aforesaid to the
118 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
use of the said Margaret, are worth forty shillings per annum;
and that the said lands &c. in Withington, granted to the said
Thomas Birch and Anne his wife, are worth twenty shillings per
annum ; and that the remainder of the lands, tenements, &c., in
Rusholme, Holt, and Withington are worth forty shillings. They
say, moreover, on oath that the aforesaid messuages &c. in Spot-
land at the time of the death of the said John Bamford were held
from Robert Holte Esq. lately deceased and Robert Savell Esq.
by military service, namely, by the hundredth part of a knight's
fee ; and that the same premises in Spotland are now held from
Charles Holte Esq., son and heir of the aforesaid Robert Holte,
and are at present in the custody of the queen by reason of the
minority of the said Charles Holte, and that they are worth
twenty-three shillings and fourpence per annum. They also say
that the aforesaid messuages, lands and tenements, with their
appurtenances, in Middleton, called Bamford, are held and at the
time of the death of the said John Bamford were held from
Richard Assheton Esq. in soccage, namely, by fealty and an
annual rent of [blank in the inquisition], and are worth twenty
shillings per annum. They say that the said lands, tenements &c.,
with their appurtenances, called the Forty Acres, situated in Gorton
in the aforesaid county, are held and at the time of the death of
the said John Bamford were held from Sir John Guildford Knt.
and Thomas Bishop Esq., executors of Sir Thomas West, late
Lord De la Warre, as of his manor of Manchester, in soccage,
namely, by fealty and an annual rent of twelvepence^ and are
worth forty shillings per annum. And they further say on oath
that the said John Bamford named in this writ died on the
twentieth day of August, in the fifth and sixth year of the reign
of Philip and Mary, and that Anne Bamford is his daughter and
next heir, and that at the date of the taking of this inquisition she
was of the age of five years and one month. The jurors also say
on oath that the said John Bamford had no other manors, mes-
suages, lands or tenements in the said county of Lancaster on the
day of his death other than as is aforesaid.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 110
On tlie death of Jolin Bamford Esq., the party named in the
above inquisition, dissensions arose touching the lawful inherit-
ance of his lands. These, for the most part, se_em to have de-
volved upon his only child and heiress Anne, but her right was
questioned by a male heir collaterally descended, Avho founded his
claim upon an alleged deed of entail still in force.
In the 6 Elizabeth (1563) Thomas Bamforthe claiming as cousin
and heir to John Bamforthe and as a lineal descendant of Adam
Bamforthe, who was seised in fee in the reign of Henry I., entered
an action at Lancaster against Thomas Birche, Kobert Skofeld,
Dennis Key, William Bamforthe and Anne Bamforthe, in relation
to certain lands, tenements and hereditaments in Bury, Middle-
ton, Withington, &c, ; and this was but the continuation of pro-
ceedings instituted in the same Court three years earlier. Their
efforts were however, as it seems, unattended with success, except
in so far as Bamford Hall and the lands thereunto annexed were
concerned, in which the deed of entail limiting the succession to
heirs male had remained unbroken. By an indenture tripartite,
dated the 25th of June 16 Ehzabeth (1573), between John Bam-
ford of Powlesworth in the county of Warwick yeoman on the first
part, George Birch of Birch in the county of Lancaster gent, and
Anne his wife, daughter and sole heir of John Bamford late of
The Holte in the said county deceased, on the second part, and
John Woodroff of Staple Inn in the county of ISIiddlesex gent, and
Thomas Autrobus of Lincoln's Inn in the same county gent, on
the third part. It is witnessed that "whereas there hath bene
longe stryflP, suyte and debate betwene the said John Bamford and
his auncestors synce the death of the said John Bamford, of, for
and eoncerninge certaine landes, tenementes and heredytamentes,
with their appurtenances, in Myddleton, Spotland, Rachedale,
Gorton and Withington, in the said countie of Lancaster, w''^ the
said Anne claymed as heire unto the said John Bamford deceased ;
and the said John Bamford and his auncestors claymed the same
as heire male by force of an entayle, flfor the quyetinge of vr'^ con-
troversies and suytes the said parties have by medyacon of their
120 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
ffrendes agreed iu manner and fourme foUowinge : that is to say,
that the said John Bamford shall have for all his right, tytle,
clayme, interest and demaund of and in the premises a certaine
somme of money to him to be paied by the said George and Anne,
and that the said John in consideracon thereof is content and
agreed to assure all his right, clayme and interest in the premises
unto the said George Byrche and Anne his wife, and to the heires
of the same Anne, the said John undertaking before the feast of
St. Bartholomew the Apostle next ensuing to pass and knowledge
both fyne and recovery and such other assurance as shalbe, as be-
fore is said, advised by the learned counsel of the said George
Byrch," &c.
The family continued in the male line at Bamford near Mid-
dleton until the death of George Bamford Esq., who died in 1757,
leaving three daughters his coheiresses ; these all dying without
issue, the estate was devised by Anne the eldest daughter in 1779
to William Bamford of Tarlton Bridge, a remote kinsman, after-
wards sheriff of Lancaster, who married in 1786 Anna, daughter
of Thomas Blackburne of Hale Esq., who assumed the name of
Bamford in 1806, and was grandfather of Lloyd Hesketh Bamford
Hesketh of Gwyrch Castle, in the county of Denbigh, Esq., the
owner of several estates in Didsbury township.'
The name Holt signifies in the Anglo-Saxon a grove of timber
trees. Matilda del Holt, who is named as a land-owner in Bush-
olme in a deed dated 29 Edward I. (1301),2 and Thomas del
Holtes, who in 1349 appears as a witness to a deed of conveyance
relating to the Slade Hall estate, iu the township of Busholme,
may probably have been members of a family deriving its name
from this place.
The family of Entwisle also was anciently connected with either
the township or manor of Withington. Edmund Entwisell, as
appears from an inquisition p. m. dated 36 Henry VIII. (1544),
died seised of Entwisell manor in Bolton parish, and also of lands
• Eaines's Not. Cestr. vol. ii. part i. p. 29 (Chetham Series).
" Bircli Papers, penes Sir .Jolan W. H. Anson Bart.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 121
&c. iu "Withington. In 1576, Edward Tildcsley impleads Alex-
ander Entwiscll in the Duchy Court at Lancaster in relation to
certain lands &c. in Entwisell manor, Withington, &c.
The name of Trafford occurs in the annals of the township at a
period too early to be now determined. By a deed undated, but
executed before the year 1224, Matthew de Hathersage grants to
Richard de Trafford and his heirs in return for homage and ser-
vice all the land which Adam, son of Alexander de Didsliury,
held of him for the term of his life, within the following limits,
beginning at Cringlcbrook and following the ditch towards the
north as far as Holdholmbroc, and so following Holdholmbrock
as far as the boundary on the land of Richard de Trafford and
Thenmannes Crofte, and thence towards the west as far as the
highway and so following the highway as far as Holdholmbrock
&c. and the common pasture of Wyddine, wherein his (Matthew
de Hathersage) other free tenants participate, — To have and to
hold the same for himself and his heirs, Jews and ecclesiastics
excepted, on payment of two shillings in silver each year at the
feast of St. :Michael and the Annunciation of the Virgin jMary.i
1 Sciant &c. q'' ego Math, de Hav'seg' dedi &e. Eiclio de Trafford & liedibj siiis p'
homag' et servicio suo tot a terr q° Adam fil. Alexandri de Diddesbur' de me tenuit ad
terminum vite infra has divisas incipiend. a ^ingelbrock et sic sequendo fossatam ver-
sus aquilonem usq' ad Holdholmbroc et sic sequendo Holdholmbrock usq' ad divisam
q' est in t'ram Eic. de Trafford & thenmannes crofte sequendo usq' occidentem usq' ad
altam strata et sic sequendo alta strata usq' ad Holdholmbrock &c. ac com' pastur'
de Wyddine ubi alii lib'i hoies mei de Wyddine 9mmiieat'; Ten'd et bend de me &c.
sibi et hedibj suis exceptis judeis et viris religiosis libe quiete &c. ; Ecdd. ann' duos
solidos arg' ad fest' S'c'i Mich, et Annunc' be Marie. Hiis testibj D'no Will'o doly ;
Will'o le oS'orays ; Eic. de Moston ; Math'o de Byrkis ; WiU'o de Diddesbur' ; Eic.
de Chollert' et aliis. — Trafford Evidences, Lane. 3ISS. vol. xxv. The deed is en-
dorsed " Deed of pasture in Wy thington, — Carta Math, de HaTcrschegh de faling-
feld & crynglebroc." The prohibitory clause in the above deed, relating to Jews and
ecclesiastics, is worthy of remark, as assisting to determine the precise period at which
the deed was executed. It is clear that at this time the Statute of Mortmain had not
been passed, which declared it to be imlawful for any person to give his land to a re-
ligious house so as to take it back again and hold it of the house, the chief lord in
such cases sustaining a loss in the withdrawal of the services due from such lands,
services originally provided for the defence of the realm. Before the 9 Henry III.
R
122 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
There is a frequent recurrence to the name in subsequent years.
From an inquisition p. m. of Sir Edmuud Trafibrd Knt. dated 5
Henry VIII. (1513), we find him seised at his death of the manor
of Trafford, and also of lands in Withington. He was the second
knight of that name, and succeeded to the estates in 1484. Later
inquisitions, of his son and successor. Sir Edmund Trafford (who
married EHzabeth, daughter of Sir Ralph Longford), in the 21
Henry VIII. (1529), his grandson of the same name, in the 6
EHzabeth (1563), and his great grandson also, Sir Edmund the
fifth knight of that name, in the 33 Elizabeth (1589), show the
descent of the estate to have been uninterrupted. In the 20
Elizabeth (1577) Sir Edmond Trafford Knt. associated with Sir
William West, Lord De la Warre, as joint lords of the manor of
Manchester, prefer their claim at Lancaster to courts leet and
view of frankpledge, and amercements in Manchester town, INIan-
chester manor, Withington &c. In the 40 Elizabeth (1597) Ed-
ward Trafford appears as defendant in an action brought against
him and others by one George Holden for forcible entry on
ground called The Houghes, Mosgreen, &c., and throwing down
plaintiff's house and barn, built on a parcel of the Moss-greene
in Wythingeton manor and Houghe manor.
Other proprietors in the reign of Elizabeth were Christian
Hulton, widow and devisee of W^illiam Hulton of Hulton Esq.,
who in the 3 Elizabeth (1560) prosecuted Adam Hulton in respect
of certain lands in Withington, &c., concerning which there had
been a decree : — Edward Syddall of Slade Hall, the original pur-
chaser of that estate, whose inquisition bears date 30 Elizabeth
(1587) : — Robert Hulme of Ilulme Hall in Reddish Esq., inquisi-
(1224) a man might give or sell his lauds to ecclesiastics as well as any other persons,
unless it was forbidden in the gift of the land to himself, and accordingly the chief
lords, on making a grant of laud, were accustomed to insert a clause preventing the
sale or gift to religious houses. It was in the 51< and 55 Henry III. (1269-70) that
the Jews were declared incapable of purchasing or taking a freehold interest in land.
Before this, though oppressed and considered as bondmen of the King, they could
hold land, subject however to the right of the King to impose heavy taxes upon them
and to seize their lands if the said taxes were not paid.
PAROCHIAL CilArEL OF DIUSBURY. 123
tion dated 43 Elizabeth (1600), mLosc grandson William Hulme
Esq. died seised of the same estate in the 17 Charles I. (1641) : —
and Sir Robert Lovell Knt., inquisition dated 44 Elizabeth (1601),
to wliom, under Didsbury, reference has already been made.
In the reign of James I. amongst the laud-owners in AVithington
we find the name of George Birch of Birch Hall in the neigh-
bouring township of Rusholrae, whose inquisition was taken at
Manchester 11 James I. (1613). He died seised, amongst other
estates, of a house called "The Holt," with the demesne &c.
thereunto belonging, situate in "Withington, which had descended
to him from his mother Anne, daughter and heiress of John Bam-
ford of The Holt Esq. This estate he held from Rowland Mosley
Esq. as of his manor of Withington, by military service, namely,
the fiftieth part of a knight's fee and the annual payment of two-
pence.
Other inquisitions are those of Sir Nicholas Mosley Knt. lord of
the manor of Withington, dated 12 James I, (1614), his son Row-
land Mosley Esq., inquisition dated 15 James L (1617), and Anne
Duckenfield, inquisition dated 18 James I. (1620). Certain estates
in Withington and Eallowfield were also held by the family of
Prestwich of Hulme, as appears from the inquisition of Edmund
Prestwich, dated 9 Charles I. (1633).i
The chief landed proprietors in the township at the present day
are William Tatton Egerton Esq. M.P., the Rev. Robert Mosley
Fielden, Charles Carill Worsley Esq., the executors of the late
John Holford Esq., Nathan Slater Esq., and Samuel Brooks Esq.
Eallowfield is a hamlet in the township of Withington, on the
Manchester and Wilmslow turnpike road, at the point of junction
of Withington and Rusholme townships. It was thus designated
prior to the year 1300. At a very early period it gave its name
' The name of Withiugtou being sometimes used La ancient deeds in its more ex-
tended sense to indicate the manor of that name, whilst at other times it is confined
strictly to the toxvnship, it becomes difficult if not impossible, in all cases, to discri-
minate between them; an occasional uncertainty in the classification of names and
estates under this division must therefore be iuevitable.
124 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
to a family located there. By a deed executed at Withington and
bearing date 11 Edward II. (1317) Thomas, son of John de Fal-
lowfield, conveys to Nicholas, son of Sir Henry de Trafford Knt.,
a certain plot of wood-land in Fallowfield in the township of
Withington, called Dyche Flat, within the following limits, be-
ginning at the cleared space once the property of John, son of
Alexander de Fallowfield, thence descending as far as Huchun-
bothmulache, and thence following the Heystowe between the
Oyche Flat and the aforesaid Huchunbothmulache towards the
Mekeldyche, thence ascending the Mekeldyche as far as the land
formerly in the possession of the aforesaid John, son of Alexander,
— To have and to hold the same to the said Nicholas and his
heirs &c. ; but if he should happen to die without issue, then with
remainder to his brothers in succession, Geoffrey, Thomas, Robert,
Uichard and Henry.^
There are yet earlier notices of this family in a deed of convey-
ance of lands in Rusholme, dated 29 Edward I. (1301), the con-
tracting parties being William, son of Henry son of Houlet de
Manchester, and Jordan, son of William de Fallowfield.^
In the 21 Henry VIII. (1529) Sir Edmund Traftbrd died
seised of the manor of Traiford and also of lands in Falowfelde
and Yeldehouse, which estates were transmitted to his son and
grandson in succession. Another land-owner in Fallowfield was
Edmund Prestwich of Holme Esq., whose inquisition post mortem
1 Sciant p'sentes &c. ego Thorn' fil. Joli'is de ffalufeld dedi &c. Nicho fil. Henr' de
Trafford militis quad™ placeam terre in bosco in ffalufeld in vill de Wythintou que
Tocatur Dyche-flat infra has divisas, incipiendo ad cornare assarti q'' fuit Joh'is ffl.
Alex' de ffalufeld, descend' usq' ad Huchunbothmulache et sequendo le Heystowe
inter le Oyche-flat et p'd'c'm Huchunbothmulache versus le Mekeldyche, ascend' le
Mekeldyche usq' in t'ram que fuit p'd'cti Joh'is fil. Alex' ; Hend &c. p'd'cto Nicho et
hed'bj de corpe &c. et si contiug' &c. rem. Galfrido fri ejus, Thome, Rob'to, Eicho,
Henr', fratr' ejus. Hiis testibj Henr' de Trafford milit. ; Eico de Trafford rector
eccl'ie de Chedle ; Matheo de Haydock ; Eico de Moston ; Johe fil. Thome de
Asshtou ; Nicho de Wyrkesworthe cTico et aliis. Dat. ap'' Wythinton die veneris
pr'x ante festu S'c'i Mich'l in yerne anno Edwardi fil. reg. Edwardi undecimo. —
Trafford Evidences, Lane. MSS.. vol. xxv,
2 Birch Papers, penes Sir J. W. H. Anson Bart.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 125
is dated 9 Charles I. (1633). In the 31 Henry YIII. (1539)
Alice Syddal, widow and executrix of James Syddal, disputes with
Edward Holt and others the possession of certain messuages,
lands &c. in Fallowfield, late the property of her deceased hus-
band. The Syddals afterwards became the purchasers of Slade
Hall in the adjacent township of Rusholme.
At the north-west corner of the township stands the Independ-
ent College, a large and somewhat imposing structure, designed
for the education of young men intended for the ministry in that
denomination. The cost of its erection, including the site (six
acres in extent) was about £27,000, which suin was raised by vo-
luntary subscription chiefly among congregational dissenters in
Lancashire. It affords accommodation for forty or fifty students,
assigning a separate study and bedroom to each, and the annual
expense of its support, defrayed for the most part by contri-
butions, averages about .€2,500. It is affiliated Anth the London
University, and its course of literary education is such as to
qualify its students to graduate at that university. It was first
opened April 25, 1843. The college itself is built entirely of
dressed stone ; the style adopted is that known as Tudor-Gothic,
which may be said to have prevailed during the latter part of the
fifteenth and the beginning of the sixteenth centuries. The prin-
cipal front is 261 feet in length and 40 feet in height, with a
tower in the centre surmounted by a lantern rising to the height
of 92 feet; the tower is supported by three-stage buttresses Avith
plain set-ofts, placed reetangularwise and terminating in crocket-
ted pinnacles ; pinnacles of the same character spring from each
angle of the lantern. At each end of the building is a gable ad-
vanced considerably forward from the main structure, and lighted
by an oriel window forming three sides of an octagon. On the
ground-floor is an arcade or covered walk upwards of 200 feet
long for shelter and exercise, and on the same floor are extensive
kitchens and other offices required for the establishment. The
principal apartments on the second story are approached by a
broad flight of steps underneath the entrance tower. The en-
126 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
trance ball is 32 feet long by 30 feet broad, and is 36 feet in
beigbt, open to tbe roof, wbicb is formed by four large timber
arches springing from stone corbels and decorated with tracery.
From the hall the principal apartments branch off on each side
and consist of a library and dining hall each 50 feet by 25 feet,
two others of smaller dimensions, and other apartments. One of
the principal features is a corridor running the entire length of
the building, connecting the various rooms and staircases : on this
floor the windows are all of the same design — three- light, square-
headed, divided by a transom and externally protected by a label
continued from window to window. From the hall a broad stone
staircase leads to a gallery supported on stone piers and arches,
from which corridors branching right and left conduct to the stu-
dents' dormitories in the upper story. At each of the principal
fronts the residences of the professors are placed. The wings,
each 112 feet in length, are appropriated to the studies and dor-
mitories of the students, having separate entrances, staircases and
corridors.
Withington has no Charity exclusively its own. For Charities
of Sir Edward ?.Iosley, Chorlton, Boardman, Bland and Linney,
ia all of Avhich the township participates, see under Didsbury,
pp. 100-102.
The earliest Population Returns for Withington are in the year
1774, at which time the township contained within its limits (ex-
clusive of the hamlet of Fallowfield, for which a separate return
is made) 71 houses, tenanted by 73 families or 438 individuals :
of these one hundred and sixty-two were under the age of 15 ;
fifty-eight above 50; fifteen above 60; eight above 70, and one
above 80. The returns made the same year for the hamlet of
Fallowfield assign to it 15 houses tenanted by 15 families, con-
sisting of 60 individuals, of whom nineteen were under 15 years
of age ; seventeen above 50 ; three above 60 ; two above 70, and
one above 80. In 1801 the entire township contained 133 houses
and 743 inhabitants. In 1811 the inhabitants had increased to
911. In 1821 they numbered 892, showing a decrease in the
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 127
population of 19 persons since the last return; houses 143; fami-
lies 156, of whom 93 were engaged in agriculture, 58 in manu-
factures, and 5 otherwise. In 1831 there were houses empty 3,
ditto occupied IG.^, being tenanted by 180 families, 85 of whom
were chiefly employed in agriculture, 76 in manufactures &c., and
19 otherwise engaged ; inhabitants 1048. In 1841 there were 8
empty houses, 7 in the course of erection, and 214 inhabited;
total inhabitants 1277. In 1851 there were 6 empty houses, 1
building, and 259 occupied by a population of 1492 persons.
In 1G55, 39 persons were rated to the relief of the poor within
the township (exclusive of Fallowfield), amongst whom were Sir
Edward Mosley, £7 16s. 6d. ; Mrs. Mosley, £1 16s. ; Edward
Chorleton, Eobert Syddall, Edward Worsley of the Tithebarn,
Edward Widow Hirst (Edward Hirst's widow), Richard JJirch,
Richard Smyth, and William Hoult. Their aggregate poor's rate
for the half year ending jSTovember 25th was .£35 16s. 6d. In
Fallowfield the ratepayers numbered 9, including Ralph Nichol-
son, Widow Nicholson, John Bradshaw, Widow Bradshaw, and
Widow Sidall. In 1854 the number of ratepayers in the town-
ship was 336, and the total amount of rate collected £276 18s. 9d.
The gross annual value of property rated for the relief of the poor
in the township was £14,017 9s. lid.
In 1692 the annual value of real property in the township, as
assessed to the land tax, was £311 5s. 5d. ; in 1815, as assessed to
the county rate, £5,006; in 1829, £6,378; in 1841, £9,565; and
in 1853, £12,027.
Withington contained, in 1854, 61 county voters. There were
in the same year in the township 3 public -houses and 5 beer-
houses. It has no mill or manufactory of any description — no
coUieiy, railway, river, or canal. The area of the township, as
stated by Rickman in the Census Returns of 1831, is 2420 acres;
Messrs, Johnson and Son estimate it at 2489 acres, and the Ord-
nance Survey at 2501 acres 21 perches.
In its ecclesiastical relations Withington was until recently in-
cluded in the parochial chapelry of Didsbury. In 1658 the chapel
128 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
rate for the repair of Didsbury Chapel was paid by 46 of the in-
habitants of Withington, amongst whom were Sir Edward Mosley,
Mrs. Anne Mosley and Mr. Richard Jackson. The tithes of the
township were payable to the Warden and Fellows of Manchester
as'rectors of the whole parish. In 1701 the tithes of Withiugton
and Burnage were leased to W. Birch for £32 per annum, and
the tithes of Fallowfield to Samuel Bamford for £4. In 1848 the
rent-charge paid to the Dean and Chapter in lieu of tithes for
Withington alone was £115, besides the further sum of £20 9s.,
payable to the Impropriator.
Its severance from Didsbury was effected in 1841, in which
year a church was erected in Withington for the accommoda-
tion of the inhabitants. It is of brick with stone dressings, and
is a plain and rather inelegant structure, in the style known as
semi-Norman, or transition from the Anglo-Norman to the Early
English, the first of the pure Gothic styles. The plan is in the
form of a parallelogram, comprising a nave and chancel, with a
tower flanking the western gable. The north and south sides are
divided into bays by flat pilaster-like buttresses carried up and
terminating in the corbel-table supporting the parapet. Each bay
is lighted by a narrow circu.lar-headed single-light window, with
a drip- stone carried round the head and continued horizontally
along the wall to the buttress. In the eastern or chancel gable is
a large wheel-window divided into compartments by small shafts.
The tower is of four stages (the basement constituting the prin-
cipal entrance to the church) and is supported by octagonal but-
tresses at the angles, carried up to the edge of the parapet and
terminating in four conical-capped pinnacles. The total cost of
its erection was £2,790 4s. 4|d., viz.: — building, £2,240 9s. 8d. ;
sewering and labour, £50 4s. 6d. ; fixtures and furniture, £101
5s. ll|d. j sundries, including bell and lawyer's bill, £227 Is. 7d. ;
architect, £110 12s.; clerk of the works, £20; sundries, £40
10s. 8d. The chief promoters were Wilbraham Egerton Esq., who
gave the site and £400; T. C. Worsley Esq. £100; Henry Forth
Esq. £100; Joseph Birley Esq. £75; Robert Tebbutt Esq. £50;
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 129
Bulkclcy Price Esq. .£50 ; R. Hodgson Esq. £50 ; George With-
ington Esq. £50 ; F. R. Iloclgsou Esq. £50 ; T. Slater Esq. £50 ;
N. Slater Esq. £50 ; Samuel IJrooks Esq. £50 ; E. A. Philips Esq.
£50 ; Rev. Robert Mosley Eiclden £50 ; T. Mottram Esq. £50 ;
Miss Atherton £50 ; F. Philips Esq. £50. The church was con-
secrated October 21, 1841.
The schools which are also of brick, and lie closely contiguous
to the church, were erected in 1814 at a cost of £600. The site
was given by Wilbraham Egerton Esq. The names of the prin-
cipal contributors are T. C. Worsley Esq. £50 ; Edmund Wright
Esq. £50; Robert Gladstone Esq. £50; N. Slater Esq. £50;
John Souchay Esq. £25; Bulkeley Price Esq. £20; Rev. F. H.
Hooper £20; Davies Esq. £20; F. Hodgson Esq. £20; to
which must be added a Government grant of £100. Accommo-
dation is provided for 160 children.
In 1855 a parsonage-house was added; towards Avhich Wil-
braham Egerton Esq. contributed £200 ; Edmund Wright Esq.
£100; Nathan Slater Esq. £75; John Barratt Esq. £60; C. P.
Henderson Esq. £50 ; Rev. Theophilus Bennett £30 ; Rev. R. W.
Burton £25 ; Richard Hampson Esq. £20. It was erected at a
cost of £1,500.
Possessing great influence in the township as long resident
there was the family of Mosley, in descent from Robert IMoscley
the possessor of a burgage in Manchester near the Bridge in the
13 Edward IV. Jenkyn Moseley gent, resided in Withiugton in
1465. He married an heiress whose name has not been recorded,
but whose family arms (or a fess sable between three eaglets
displayed sable) are to the present day quartered by his descend-
ants, and have been recognized by the Heralds' College. The
name of his residence was Hough End, so called from the Anglo-
Saxon hof, a dwelUng, and ende, a boundary; the house being
situated near to the boundary line of the two townships of With-
iugton and Chorlton. He was succeeded by his son James Mose-
ley, who attained his full age in the 6 Henry VII. (1490). James
Moseley was the father of Edward, who married Margaret, daugh-
s
130 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
ter of Alexander Elcocke of Stockport gent., and died in 1571,
lea\dng three sons, Oswald, Nicholas and Anthony. At this time
a spirit of commercial enterprise had diffused itself throughout
the land, and the two younger sons of Edward Moseley of Hough
End, Nicholas and Anthony, embarked in trade in Manchester.
Their business prospering, it was determined that one of them
should take up his residence in London in order to direct the ex-
portation of such of their goods as were destined for foreign
markets. Nicholas accordingly proceeded thither, and success
still attending his efforts he quickly advanced in fame and for-
tune. He became an alderman of Aldersgate Ward, and in 1590
served the office of sheriff. In 1594 he was elected an alderman
of Langbourn Ward, and in 1599 he became lord mayor of Lon-
don. During his term of office apprehensions "were entertained
of a meditated attempt on the part of Spain to reverse the late
discomfiture of their "invincible armada," and an invasion of
England was thought imminent. The citizens of London under-
took to furnish the Queen with 6000 soldiers and sixteen ships
of war; and this duty, as well as the providing other adequate
defences for the city, was undertaken and carried out under the
superintendence and by the energy of the lord mayor. Ireland
too had begun to show symptoms of uneasiness, and for quelling
an anticipated insurrection a further levy of 500 men and several
ships was made upon the citizens, who cheerfully responded. This
was done chiefly at the suggestion of the lord mayor; and so en-
tirely did it meet with the Queen's approval that before the expi-
ration of his mayoralty he received the honour of knighthood, her
majesty presenting him at the same time with a handsomely-carved
oak bedstead and other articles of furniture for the new house
which he had recently erected at Hough End on the site of the
old mansion, the seat of his ancestors. In 1596 he purchased the
manor of Manchester from his friend John Lacy, citizen of Lon-
don, and added yet further to his influence in that neighbourhood
by the purchase of lands in Heaton Norris and in the township of
Withington. In conformity with a custom at that time prevalent
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 131
and, it is stated, in compliment to his son Edward, then rising
into note as a barrister, he changed his name from Moseley to
Mosley, so that it might the better harmonise with the jjunning
motto he had recently adopted — ''Mos legem regit" — Custom
or precedent rules the law. In 160-i he was appointed high sheriff
of the county of Lancaster. Sir Nicholas was twice married ; his
first wife being Margaret, daughter of Hugh Wliitbroke of Bridge-
north gent., by whom he had issue Rowland, his eldest son and
successor, Anthony and Edward, besides other children who died
in their infancy. He married secondly in 1592 Elizabeth, daugh-
ter of John Rookes gent, and relict of Hendiey of the city of
London gent., who survived him. His later years were passed at
Hough End, where he died in 1612 at the advanced age of 85.
He was buried at Didsbury in the Mosley Chapel at the south
side of the chancel, a handsome monument being erected to his
memory by his widow. ^
Will of Sir Nicholas Mosley Knt.
In the name of God, Amen. I S^ Nicholas Mosley of the
Hough End in the countie of Lancaster Knyghte, beinge in good
and p'fecte memorie (the Lord bee praysed) doe ordaine and make
this my laste Will and Testam* wherein is contayned tV effecte of
my laste will. And ffirste and principallie I coinende my soule
unto Almyghtie God my Maker and Redeemer w^^ a stedfaste hope
to bee saved by the mercie and merritts of o'^ Lord and onlie
Savio'' Jesus Christe : and my bodie to bee buried in the Chapell
of Didsburie or wheare ytt shall please God to appoynte. And for
such seignories, mano''®, lordshipps, landes, tenementes and here-
ditaraentes, together w^^ such leases, goodcs, debtes, credittes,
cattails, and chattalls as ytt hath pleased Almightie God to make
me overseer and stewarde of in this transitorie worlde, I will, geve,
bequeath and devise the same as hereafter followeth ; that is to
sale, ffirst my will and mynde is that Dame Elizabeth nowe my
wief shall have soe muche, if shee bee contented therewith, as my
' Familtf ilemoirs by Sir Oswald Moslev Bart., pp, 8, 9. 1849.
133 A HISTORY OF TPIE ANCIENT
Sonne Kowlande and myself have covenanted to paye her yearlie,
wcl^ is the some of three hundred poundes ev'rie yeare duringe her
n'rall hef, and the some of xxx^i a yeare more to bee payde duringe
her widowhood for her house rente, in sueh sorte as my said soune
Rowland ]Mosley and myself have covenanted shee shall have.
Also I give and bequeath to my said wief in lieu of her chamber
two of my beste beddes w*^ the ffurniture accordinglie, excepte the
beste tapestrie cov'ringe and the beste bedstocke alsoe excepted.
Also I give and bequeath unto my said wief all sueh plate as shee
had att the tyme I married her, save onlie one pott W^-^ was stoolene
awaye in the tyme of my mayroltie in London. And also I give
and bequeath unto my said wief her chaine and brasletts and her
wearinge apparell and all thinges hereunto belongiuge. And alsoe
I give and bequeath unto my saide wief my coache and coache
horses w^ii the furniture thereof; and alsoe all such lynnens as
were my said wiefes before I married her, and a restinge in the
house ; butt if my said wief bee not therewtii contented butt shall
in anie wise sue and trouble my executo'" or his assignes for anie
furth'' or oth^' portions, that then my will and mynde is that my
form'^ guiftes and bequeathes shall cease and bee utterlie voyde
and the same to remayne to my executor and his assignes. Alsoe
I give to a schoolemi' to teache scoole att Chollerton Chapell five
poundes ev'ie yeare duringe twentie yeares nexte after my decease
oute of my rentes of the Denorie of Bridge North, yearelie to bee
receaved ; Provided alwaies that my two sonnes Rowland Mosley
and Edward Mosley and my nephew Oswolde JNIosley sonne to my
late broth!" Anthonie Mosley or anie two of them, theire heires or
assignes, shall have the nominacon of the said schoolem^ ; and pro-
vided alsoe that the said scholemi shall not take of anie scholler
above vj^ a quarter of a yeares teacheinge ; and alsoe that my two
sonnes and my said nephewe or anie two of them theire heires or
assignes shall have power to discharge the said schoolem^ if hee bee
negligent in teacheinge his schoUers, and to appoynte an oth' in
his place. And I will and desire that the said schoolem'' maye
reade praire three tymes ev'ie week in the said chapell. Alsoe I
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 133
will aud desire that the mayntcnance W^^ Mr. Chorleton gave to
the said scoole, beynge five pouudes yearlie or above, maye bee
imploycd to the said use accordingc to his guifte. Alsoe my Avill
and mynde is that I or my exccuto'- shall pay unto my sonne
Edwai'd Moslcy w'^'iu oue whoole yeare after the deate hereof the
fulle aud iuste soirie of nyne hundredth and fyftie poundes of
lawfull money of England p'vided alwaies and upon condicon that
the saidc Edward Mosley doe and shall convaye and assure unto
the said Rowland JNIosley his heires and assignes all that his
capitall messuage or mansion house called The Lodge, in Alpore
[Alport] Parke, w^^^ all houses and buyldinges belongynge to the
same in Alpore neare Manchester w^i^in the countie of Lancaster,
w'^^ is parte of the saide parke and impayled groundes called
Alpore Parke, and his parte of the soyle and grounde betweene
the parke pale and the river of Irwill ; and alsoe all his parte of
the feilde called Alpore feilde w'^' two closes lieinge and beynge in
Alpore aforesaid; aud all such other intereste as hee the said
Edward Mosley hath in the said house and groundes. Alsoe I doe
give, graunte, confirme aud devise unto my said sonne Edward
Mosley, and to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten
or to bee begotten, all and singuler these houses or tenements
and gardens in Manchester aforesaid w'^^ i boughte, p'cured
or purchased of Alexander Sorocolde and Stephen Browne de-
ceased Av*^ all and singuler rentes, rev'cons, services and here-
ditaments to them and ev'ie or anie of them app'tayninge or
belongynge. Alsoe I doe allowe of and confirme unto my said
sonne Edward Mosley all sucb money as hee heretofore re-
ceaved by my guyfte of S^" Walter Arcott K*^ and of George
Birche gent., amouutinge to ff"oure hundreth poundes; and
alsoe one hundreth pouudes w^li I gave unto him when hee
entered upon his office. Alsoe ytt is my will and mynde and I
doe hereby will, give, devise and confirme unto my eldest sonne
Rowland Mosley the moyetie of the Deanerie of Bridge Northe
and all and singuler the landes, rentes and hereditamentes there-
unto belonginge for and duringe the n'rall lives of Dame Elizabeth
134- A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
my nowe wief, aud from and after the death and decease of the
saide Dame Elizabeth my wief, my will and mynd is and I doe
hereby will, give and devise unto my said sonne Edward Mosley,
and to the heires males of his bodie lawfuUie begotten or to be
begotten the said moyetie of the said Deanerie of Bridge North,
and all and singuler the landes, rentes and hereditaments there-
unto bclougynge, w^^^ all priviledges, jurisdiccons, members, teithes
and appurtenances thereto belongynge charded and chargeable
neverthelesse w^'^ the Kiuges Mamies rentes. Alsoe ytt ys my will
and mynde and I doe hereby will, give, devise and confirme unto my
said Sonne Edward INIosley and to the heires males of his bodie
lawfullie begotten or to bee begotten the oth' moyetie of the
Deanerie of Bridge North, latelie p'cured or purchased by me of
Will"^ Whitmore Esquier, and all and singuler the landes, rentes
and heriditam^s i^ Bridge North aforesaid, and in the counties of
Salopp and Stafford or eith^ of them to the said moyetie belonginge
or app'tayninge w^^ all privilidges, jurisdiccons, members, tythes
and appurtenances thereunto belonginge, charded and chargeable
nev'theless w*^ the yearelie rente or soine of fyve poundes, before
by me given and bequeathed to a schoolem^' to teache schoole att
Chollerton Chapell duringe the said twentie yeares nexte after my
decease, w^^ yearelie rente of five poundes my will is shall bee
payde att the feaste of St. Michaell th' arkangle and the annunci-
acon of the blessed Virgin Marie by equall p'cons or w^Mn fourtie
daies of eith' of the said feastes nexte ensueinge, the firste payem*
to begiune att wheth^" of the said feastes shall nexte happen after
my decease, ov^' and besydes the Kinges Ma^i^s rente. And alsoe
I doe hereby give, ratifie and allowe to my said eldeste sonne
Rowland Mosley, and to the heires males of his bodie, &c., all that
and those the manno^'^ and lordshipps of Houghe, Whithington and
Didsburie, aud all aud ev'rie the landes, tenem^s, rentes, rev'cons,
services and hereditam^^ in Houghe, A¥hithingtou, Didsburie, Bur-
nedge, Eaton AYood greene, ffallowefeild, Houghend, Yealdhouse,
Moss-greene, Ladiebarue, Kushoolme, Barscrofte, Chorleton, Chol-
lerton, Strrtford, Turvemosse, Lydle heath and Birchall houses, iu
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 135
as large and ample maun'' as they bee stated and conveyed unto
him by one deede of Intayle bearinge date the xxviij^h dale of July
inste in the fourth yeare of the raigne of the Kinges Mat^'c that
nowc is as otli"^ waies. Alsoe ytt is my will and mynde, and I doe
hereby vnll, give, devise and confirme to my said eldeste sonne
Rowland Mosley and to the heires males of his bodie, &c., the
seignorie manno'' and lordshipp of ^Manchester in the countie of
Lancaster w"^^ I contracted for or purchased of or from Mr. John
Lacie late of London, cloth-worker, and all the messuages, landes,
tenem^^, rentes, rev^cons, services and hereditam*^ to the said
manno^" of Manchester in anie wise app'tayneinge or belongynge
excepte certayne houses or tenem^s w'=^ I have hereby given to my
said Sonne Edward INIosley and his heires males, and Avere boughte
by me of Stephen Browne and of Alexander Sorocoulde deceased.
Alsoe ytt is my will and mynde and I doe hereby give, will, devise
and confirme unto my said eldeste sonne Rowland Mosley and to
the heires males of his bodie, &c., the manno^ or lordshipp of
Heaton Norres in the said countie of Lancaster, and all and sin-
guler the messuages, landes, tenem**, rentes, rev' cons, services and
hereditamts to the said manno"^ or lordshipp in anie wise app'tayu-
inge or belonginge W^^ I latelie purchased of the Lord Gerrard that
nowe is. Alsoe I doe hereby will, give, devise and confirme unto
my said eldeste sonne Rowland jVIosley and the heires males of his
bodie, &c., all and singuler the messuages, landes, tenem^s, rentes,
rev'cons, services and hereditam^^^ in Streetehouse Lane in the said
countie of Lancaster w^^ I purchased amongste oth^" thinges of the
Ladie Lovell. Alsoe my will and mynde is and I doe hereby will,
give, devise and confirme unto my said eldeste sonne Rowland
Mosley and the heires males of his bodie, &e., the manno^^ or lord-
shippes of Cheetham, Cheetwood and Brighte meade, w^^^^ all my
righte, tytle, intereste and service w<^^ I have yett to come by vertue
of one lease of ten thousande yeares granted to me by the right
honorable Will"" Earle of Derbie, w^^^ all and singuler rentes,
rev^cons, services and hereditam*^ thereunto belonginge or in anie
man'" appertayneinge. Alsoe ytt is my will and mynde and I doe
136 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
liereby will, give and devise to my said eldeste sonne Rowland
Mosley and to the heires males of his bodie, &c., the lordshippes
of Prestall Lee and Walkden and eith'' of them, in the countie of
Lancaster, and two messuages and tenem^s w^i^ all landes, rentes,
rev'cous, services and hereditam^s thereunto belonginge, situate,
lyeinge and beinge in Barlow and Houlme in the said countie of
Lancaster, all w^i^ I purchased of S"^ Edmund Traiford Kt., w^^ all
and singuler rentes, rev'cons, services and hereditam^s to the said
lordshippes anie or ev'rie of them app'tayninge or belongynge.
Provided alwaies, and ytt is my will and mynde that if my said
eldeste sonne Rowland Mosley doe not paie or cause to bee payd
or tendereth unto my said sonne Edward Mosley the aforesaid
soiiie of nyne hundred and fyftie poundes heretofore by this my
will limited and appoynted, that then my will and mynde is, and I
doe hereby will, give and devise to my said sonne Edward Mosley
and to the heires males of his bodie, &c., the aforesaid manno^^ or
lordshippes of Prestall Lee and Walkden and eith^ of them w*
the messuages, rentes, rev' cons, services and hereditamts thereunto
belonginge or app'tayneing. And although I have heretofore con-
vayed unto my sonne Anthonie and his heires one moyetie of the
Deanerie of Bridge North in possession for his p'ferment in mar-
riage xij or xiij yeares agoe W'^ hee sythence hath soulde, and then
and before have given him greate soriies of money amountinge to
twelve hundred poundes w^^^ beinge given unto him in my lief tyme
and longe before my death, I thinke to bee a sufficient advancem^
togeth^' w'^ such p'ferm't as 1 doe by this my laste will bestowe
upon his daughter, and therefore doe not mention my said sonne
Anthonie Mosley before in this my laste will, but houlde him and
soe herebie declare him to be fullie advanced, yett notw^'^standinge
my will and mynde is that my sonne Rowland Mosley and his
heires shall oute of the capitall messuage called the Whitehall and
the landes thereunto belonginge, scituate, lyeinge and beinge in
Houghe in the p'ishe of Wilmeslowe in the countie of Chester,
paye unto the said Anthonie Mosley my sonne for his better
mayntenance twentie poundes a yeare of currante money of Eng-
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 137
land if liee thercw^'^ bee contented and satisfied, viz' cv'i-ie quarter
five pouudes dui-inge the u'rall lief of the said Anthonie y'
ytt shalbe from tyme to tyme yearclie duringe his n'rall lief
soe thoughte convenient and needfull att and by the discrecon
of my nephewes Oswould Mosley of the Ancoates and ffrancis
Lis broth'", and of Alexander Elcocke, sonne to my late cosin
fii'ancis Elcocke of Stockporte, or of anie two of them, theire
heires or assignes, and not oth^'wise. And alsoe that my
said Sonne Rowlande Mosley and his heires or assignes shall
out of the said capitall messuage called the Whitehall and
the landes thereunto belongiuge paye unto M^garett Mosley,
daughter to my said sonne Anthonie ilosley, for her mayneten-
ance duringe her n'rall lief sixe poundes thirteene shillinges foure
pence yearclie of lyke currante money of England att the lyke feaste
dayes by equall p'cons, viz. xxxiijs iiijti a quarter if ytt shalbe soe
thoughte from tyme to tyme conveniente and needfull by the dis-
crecon of my said nephewes Oswould and ffrancis Mosley and my
said cosin Alexander Elcocke, theire heires or assignes or anie two
of them, if the terme contayned in the said indenture of lease soe
longe endure. And after th^ expiracon of the lease my will and
mynde is that my said sonne Rowland Mosley and his heires shall
well and trulie paye or cause to bee payde unto the said M'garett
Mosley duringe her n'rall lief sixe poundes xiij^ iiij'^ a yeare, viz*
three and thirtie shillinges foure pence a quarter att the feaste
aforesaid if ytt shalbe thought needfull by the p'ties above named
or anie two of them, theire heires or assignes, oute of all the landes
that I have given to my said sonne Rowlande Mosley and bis
heires. Alsoe my will and mynde is that if the p'vision alreadie
made for my sisters by me and my friendes bee under the value of
xxt'« nobles a peece, then I bynde tli' exccuto'' of this my will to
paye oute of my goodes unto ev'rie of my sisters that have not
p'vision to the sorne of \j^' xiij^ iiij^ a peece yearlie, the sume of
xiij« iiij'i a quarter att the feaste aforesaid duringe theire n'rall
liefes respectivelie, and that ytt shalbe soe thoughte needfull by
the sup"" visors of this my laste will or the more p'te of them.
T
138 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Alsoe I doe furth"" give and confirme unto the worp^i the Maister
Wardens of the Companie of Clothworkers in London all such
landes tenem'^s and hereditam^s as were purchased by them in my
name, and accordinge to a form^ will by me made of the purpose
onelie. Alsoe ytt is my will and myude and I doe give and be-
queath to evVie one of my houshold s'rvantes that have served me
five yeares, sixe and twentie shillinges eighte pence a peece ov"" and
besides theire wages ; and to ev'rie one of my s'vantes that have
s'ved me one yeare, tenne shillinges a peece ov^r and besydes theire
wages. Alsoe my will and mynde is and I doe hereby give and
bequeath unto fouretie poore men and tsventie poore women ev'rie
one a gowne ; and to ev'rie poore housholder w*Mn this p'ish that
shalbe att my fun' all iiij*^ a peece. Alsoe ytt is my will and mynde
and I doe give and bequeath unto the poore of the towne of INIau-
chester xx^ to bee distributed amougste them by fyve poundes a
yeare att the feaste of St. Michaell and the Birthe of o'' Lorde God
by even porcons by the discrecon of my executo''^ and ov' seers.
Alsoe I will, give and bequeath unto the poore of the townshippes
of Whithiugton and Heaton Norres the lyke suine of xx^i to bee
distributed in such vvaie and sorte as th' oth'^ xx^' to the poore of
Manchester before by me appoynted to bee distributed. Alsoe ytt
is my will and mynde and 1 doe give and bequeath to George Allen
my warde, his marriage and warde shipp, and all the benefitte of
his landes since he came to age. Alsoe ytt is my will and mynde
that my plate shalbe equallie divided betwixte my two sonnes
Rowland Mosley and Edward Mosley, all saveinge my basen and
yewere of silv"" w<^'^ I give and bequeath to my said sonne Rowland
Mosley as an heire-loome to my house. Alsoe, whereas I have a
lease to me and ray assignes for terme of the n'rall liefes of my
sonnes Rowland Mosley and Anthonie Mosley and of the longer
liver of them of one capitall messuage and landes thereunto be-
longinge w*^^^ th' appurtenances coinonlie called Whitehall, scituate
in the Houghe w*Mn the p'ish of Wilmeslowe in the countie of
Chester, ytt is my will and mynde and I doe assigne ov'^' the said
lease of the said capitall messuage called Whitehall, and of all the
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIUSBURY. 139
laudes aud hereditam*'* w^i^ the appurtenances thereto belonginge
to the said Rowland Mosley my sonne, his heires, executo" and
assigncs duviuji;e the terinc of tlircc score ycarcs next ensueinge
the date hereof if the said Rowland Mosley or Anthonie Mosley
or eith'^ of them soe longe live, the said Rowland Mosley, his heires,
executors and assignes payeing to the said Anthonie Mosley the
yearlic soine of xx^S to his daughter M'garett xx^'^ nobles in such
man'' and forme as is before in this my last will limited and ex-
pressed. Alsoe it is my will and mynde and I doe give and devise
to my said eldeste sonne Rowland Mosley, his hcires and assignes,
all my messuages, landes, tenem^s and hereditamts in Sale in the
countie of Chester, w* all and singuler rentes, revcons, services
and hereditamts to the same belonginge or in any waie app'tayne-
inge in as large, ample and beneficall man^' as I houlde the same.
Alsoe my will and mynde is and I doe hereby assigne ov^ unto my
said eldeste sonne Rowland Mosley, and to his executor's and
assignes, my lease of the teithe corne of Heatou Norres, w^-^^ all
my righte, tytlc and intereste therein yett to come and unexpyred,
charged and chargeable nev'thelesse w*'^ the soiiie of xx^i before by
me given to the poore of the towne of Manchester, and alsoe the
some of xxii before by me given to the poore of Whithington and
Heaton Norres, if the tearme of the lease of the said teithe corne
soe long endure. Also whereas I heretofore dyd take a lease of
Mr, Langford of the house and grounde wherein I dwell for three
score and tenne yeares whereof there bee div'rs yeares yett unex-
pyred, my will and mynde is and I doe assigne the said lease w'^^
all the revcons of yeares yett unexpyred, and all my intereste of
and in my saide house and grounde unto the saide Rowlande
Mosley, my said eldeste sonne, his executo's jvucl assignes duringe
all the residue of the said tearme, and upon condicon that my said
sonne Rowlande Mosley shall take upon him the executorshipp of
this my laste will. After my fun' all expenses discharged and my
debtes payde, I give and bequeath unto him the said Rowland
Mosley, my sonne, all the reste of my goodes and cattalles what-
soever moveable and iinoveable. And I doc revoake and disannul!
140 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
all form'" wills heretofore by me made, saveiuge onelie my will
made to the Wor^i Companie of Cloath workers in London. Alsoe
I doe ordaine and make the said Rowlande Mosley, my sonne, sole
executo'' of this my laste will and testam^ And I desire ray love-
inge nephewes Oswell Mosley and fiPrancis Mosley, sonnes of my
late brother Anthonie Mosley deceased, and my cosins Jacob
Procter and Alexander Elcocke to bee supVisors of this my laste
will and testam*. And if anie contention or variance shall happen,
as God forbide, amongste anie of the p'sons in this my laste will
named touchenge anie charge therein contayned, given or be-
queathed, or oth'wise, then I shall desire my said sup'visors of
this my laste will to bee aydinge and assistinge to my executo"^ for
the orderinge and endinge of the cause. And I doe give unto
ev'rie one of them my said supVisors 1^. a peece to make ev'rie
one of them a ringe to weare for my sake. In witnes whereof I
the said S"" Nicholas Mosley to this my laste will and testament
have putt my hande and scale the xij*^ dale of November in the
tenth yeare of the r;:igne of o^ Sov^aigne Lord James, by the grace
of God kinge of England, ffrance and Ireland, defendo'' of the
ffaithe &c. ; and of his highnes raigne of Scotland the x\\j^^ &c.
Witnesses : — Robert Gee, Robert Barlow, Lawrence Crowder,
Will™ Harrinson.
Elizabeth, second wife of Sir Nicholas Mosley, survived her
husband about five years, and dying in 1617 was also buried at
Didsbury.
Will of Dame Elizabeth Mosley.
In the name of God, Amen. I Dame Elizabeth Mosley, wid-
dowe, late the wyfe of S"" Nicholas Mosley, Knight, deceased, beinge
at this p'nte sicke in bodie yet of p'fcte memory (the Lord God
be praysed for it), consideringe that deathe is certaine to all men,
and the tyme thereof most incertaine, and beinge desirous to dis-
pose of such quantitie of worldlie goodes as it hath pleased God to
blesse me w^i^all in suche sorte as may tende to the honour of God,
the quietnes of my owne minde and the comforte of my friendes
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 141
aud welwillers, doe make and ordaine this my laste will and
testam* iu manner and forme followingc : ffirste therefore aud
principallie I commend my soulc and spirit into the handcs of
Almightie God my Creator trustinge to be saved by the meritts,
death and passion of my alone Savio"^ and Redeemer Christe Jesus,
to whom be all prayse and glorie ascribed both nowe and ever,
Amen ; and my bodie I commend to Christian buriall desiringe
my executors hereafter named that they will cause the same to be
decentlie interred in the Chappell of Diddisburie ncere to the
place where my late husbande S^ Nicholas Mosley was buryed,
and that in the day tyme and in the company of neighboures and
not privilie nor in the night t3'me. And yt is my will and desire
that my executor's shall disburse or lay forth one hundred and
three score pounds in or about my funerall, or more if they in their
owne discrecons shall thinke it fittinge, whereof and amongst
others I would request these p'sons followinge to were blacke
at my fun^all, either gownes or cloakes, at the discrecon of niyne
executo''^, that is to say my sonne-in-lawe S"^ Edward Mosley
knight, my daughter Mosley and her waytinge gentlewoman, my
brother-in-law Oswald Mosley of the Garrett, and his sonne Oswald
Mosley, my sister Cudworth, my cosen Oswald Mosley of the
Ancoates and his wife, my cosen ffrancis Mosley his brother, my
brother-in-law Adam Holland and his wife, Margaret Mosley
daughter of my sonne Anthonie, Elizabeth Tatton and Margaret
Hartley my servants, William Sparke and his wife, Jone Gran-
tham wife of John Grantham, Jane Holland, Robert Barlowe of
Heatou, ffrauncis Pendleton, Lawrence Crowther, Edward Chorl-
ton, Richard Chorlton, Robert Brooke, John Twiford, Richard
Comelach and Richard Jackson of the Hough End. And for
the residewe of my goodes, rightes and credittes (after my
fun''rall expenses discharged) I give and bequeath the same as
followeth ; and ffirste I give to the poore of the towne of jNIan-
chester tenne poundes, and to the poore of the Lordshippe of
the Houghe, ChoUerton and Heaton Norres tenne poundes ; and
in signe of my remembrance of my kinsfolkes servantes and
142 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
friendes hereafter menconed, I give and bequeath uuto my bro-
ther John Rookes of Normanton iu Lincolneshn-e three score
and tenne poundes if he be liviuge at the tyme of my decease^
and if he shall not be then livinge, then the same to be given and
distributed to and amongst all his children (exceptinge onlie his
Sonne Richard.) Item I give to my said nephewe Richard Rookes
eldest Sonne of my said brother John Rookes three score and tenne
poundes if he be liviuge, if not then to his children. Item I give
to that Sonne of my brother Robert Rookes whoe latelie came over
with my nephewe Richard Rookes into Lancashire ffive poundes.
Item I give to my halfe brother John Rookes of London ffortie
poundes, to be paid him by five poundes a yeare. Item I give to
Marie late wife of my brother William Rookes five poundes. Item
I give to my daughter Mosley my best gold bracelettes and my
beste peticoate, and to her sonne and daughter either of them a
guilte canne. Item I give to Anne Whitmore daughter of Wil-
liam Whitmore of London esquier five markes to buy some pretie
Jewell to weare for a reraembrannce from me. Item to my cosen
Oswald Mosleyes wife of the Ancoates my lesser gold bracelettes
and one of my beste peticoates. Item I give to Margaret Mosley
daughter of my sonne Anthouie Mosley twelve poundes, the same
to remaine in the handes of my cosen Oswald Mosley of the An-
coates untill sliee come to sufficient age to give a dischardge for the
same, and my said cosen to allowe her such profitte for the same
towards her p'sent maintenance as he in his discrecon shall thinke
fittinae. Item I give to Nicholas sonne of my said cosen Oswald
Mosley of the Ancoates flbrty shilliuges. Item I give to Nicholas
sonne of my said cosen fiir-auncis Mosley fibrty shilliuges. Item I
give towardes the bewtifyinge of Diddisbury Chappell five poundes.
Item I give to ]M"s Walker wife of M^' Walker of London, protho-
notorie, my velvet cloake and three poundes in money ; and to her
daughter Elizabeth three poundes ; and to M"^ Blanche wife of
Alexander Glover of London three poundes, to buy them gold
ringes w*^'^all. Item I give to M''^ Anne Page of London ffifty
poundes and my crimson curtaines and vallences and twoe Mock-
PAROCHIAL CIIAPKL OF DIDSBURY. 143
adoc cusliious. Item I give to my old servant Robert Hyndley of
London £5. Item I give to Robert Swanne of London five
poundes. Item I give to oldc M"^ Prcstwich of Hulme three
poundes. Item I give to the children of M'' William Gerrard late
clerke of the Duehie, deceased, twentie poundes, the same to be
distributed amongst them at the discrecon of M'" ffclixe Gerrard
their unckle, because I myself am ignorante howe many of them
are nowe livinge or where they remaine. Item I give to the
sonnes and daughters of M'" Richard Gerrard late parson of Stock-
porte deceased to every of them therty shilliuges a peece. Item I
give to Humphrey Davenporte esquire ffive poundes, and to his
wife my velvett muffe. Item I give to old M"s Sutton my beste
hoode. Item to my sonne Anthony Mosley ffive poundes. Item
I give to my cosens Ellen Shewell, Alice Cudworth, Anne Mosley,
ffrauncis INIosley, Edward ]Mosley, Richard Mosley, and Rowland
:Mosley ffive poundes a pcece. Item I give unto Anne Mosley
daughter of my cosen Oswald ]\Iosley of the Ancoates ffive poundes.
Item I give unto my cosen John Haughtons wife of Manchester
three poundes, and to his daughter Judith Haughton my leaste
hoope ringe of gold. Item 1 give to my said servant Elizabeth
Tatton my beste bedd w^^ the vallences, crimson cov'ringe and all
the furniture thereunto belonginge, my better greate boxe w^i^ a
drawinge tyll therein, one needleworke cushion twoe crimson
ymbroydered cushions, my scarlet peticoate w* three gardes of
velvet, the one halfe of all such my lynnens as I shall not give or
dispose of either by this my will or otherwise, and three score and
tenne poundes in money. Item I give to my said servant Mar-
garet Hartley the bedd w^^ shee lyeth on w^^ all the furniture
thereunto belonginge, my newer broade boxe w^^^out any tyll, one
needle-worke cushion, twoe crimson ymbroydered cushions, the
other halfe of all such my lynnens as I shall not give or dispose of
by this my will or otherwise, and therty poundes in money. Item
I give to AHce Sparke a table cloathe and a dosen of napkins of
the better sorte, twoe of my beste needleworke cushions, and six
poundes in money. Item 1 give to Jone Grantham wife of the
144 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
said John Grantham a table cloath and a dosen of napkins of the
better sorte and fortie shillinges in money. Item I give to the wife
of the said Robert Barlowe of Heaton Norres another table cloath
and a dosen of napkins of the better sorte and fortie shillinges in
money. Item I give to Robert Barlovves two auntes fortie shillinges
a peec3. Item I give to Robert Barlowes mother fortie shillinges.
Item I give to Margaret Robinson wife of Robert Robinson five
poundes. Item I give to the minister of Diddisburie for the tyme
being fortie shillinges. Item to Jane Hollande three poundes ; to
John tfletcher fortie shillinges ; to Edward Hulme fortie shillinges ;
to Edmund Mosley fortie shillinges ; to Ottiwell Barlowe five
poundes ; to William Gibbon fortie shillinges ; to Ellen Prestwich
fortie shillinges ; to Roger Barlowe twentie shillinges ; to Mar-
garet Seddon fortie shillinges ; to James Birch fortie shillinges ;
to William Langford fortie shillinges ; to Elizabeth daughter of
Robert Brooke twentie shillinges ; to Anne Walmisley twentie
shillinges ; to Anne Hartley eleaven shillinges in gold ; to William
Harrison three poundes ; to old Richard Hartley tenne shillinges ;
to Oliver Hulme tenne shillinges ; to old James Hartley tenne
shillinges ; to old John Hunt tenne shillinges ; to Robert Hulme
at the Chappell style in Chollerton tenne shillinges ; to Alice
Hartley twentie shillinges ; to William Ashton dwellinge neere to
Hollynfeyre fortie shillinges ; to Thomas Renshaw of Sale fortie
shillinges ; to William Garnett fortie shillinges ; to Robert Brooke
fortie shillinges^ and to his Avife twentie shillinges ; to Lawrence
Crowther fortie shillinges; to Edward Chorltons wife fortie shil-
linges; to Cecilie Chorlton her daughter-in-lawe to the use of her
children fortie shillinges ; to j^onge Alexander Hartleys wife twen-
tie shillinges ; to Isabell Smyth widdowe twentie shillinges ; and
to every one that shalbe servant in the house at the tyme of my
decease and not herein formerlie noiated six shillinges and eight-
pence; to John Tompson sonne of my sister Anne Tompson
deceased foure poundes and to his sister Katharine three poundes ;
to George ffletcher twentie shillinges; to Ellyn Rudd twentie
shillinges ; to Katharine Chatterton three poundes ; to John Lees
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 145
tweutie sliillingcs ; and more to Margaret Hartley a scarlet peti-
cote w'^> twoe gardes of velvet. Item to my sister Hollande five
poundes ; and to John Brooke fortie shillinges ; all the residue of
my goodes, rightcs and credittes not heercin or heereby formerly
given or bequeathed I leave to my executors and overseers beer-
after nominated to be disposed of to such person and in such
manner and forme as to my said executors and overseers shalbe
thoughte fittinge. And of this ray laste Will and Testament I
doe nominate and intreate my said sonne-in-lawe S"^ Edward Mosley
Knight and my said coseu Oswald ]Mosley of Ancoates to be
executors^ givinge to either of them tenne poundes a peece for
their paines, if they or either of them shall proove this my will
and take uppon them the charge of the said executorshippe. And
I doe likewise nominate and request the said William Sparke and
Robert Barlowe to be overseers of this my will^ and for their
paines to be taken thearein I doe giv^e to either of them tenne
poundes a peece. And if the said S^ Edward Mosley Knight and
the said Oswald Mosley shall refuse to proove this my will or to
be executors thereof, then, and not otherwise., I doe further noiate
and appointe the said William Sparke and Robert Barlowe to be
executors of this my will, desiringe them to see the same honestlie
and dulie p'formed aecordinge to my truste in them reposed. In
witness whereof, &c.
The inventory of the goods and chattels of Dame Elizabeth
Mosley is dated May 24, 1617, and the total valuation is £1,259
16s. 3d.
Imp. Best bedd and ffurniture, excepte bed-
stockes xij^
It. One scarlet petticoate w'^ three gardes
of velvet ij^* x^
It. One scai'let petticoate w^^^ twoe gardes
of velvet ij^^
It. One oulde scarlet petticoate xxx^
It. One crimson sattin petticoate v^
It. One damask petticoate ymbroidred ... v^^
u
146 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
It. One velvett hudd . .. xx^
It. An oulde gowue, a kirtle, a remnante of
grogran and twoe yeardes of scyprus iiijii
It. Halfe the rest of the lynneu praised... xxviijii xij^
It. One paire of bracelettes of gould x^^
It. Twoe silver Cannes^ percell guilte vj^' xiij^ iiij'^
It. A broken flFanne x^
It. An old coache and twoe coache horses vij^i
It. One goulde cheane 21 oz. & | at Iv^ oz. Is^^
It. Three tuns^ one great salte w* a cover,
a trencher salt, a standinge salt,
three boules, twoe dozen spoones,
twoe Cannes, one broken bovde and
broken silver ■ — all waying 174 oz. f
at v* the oz xliij^i xiij^ ix^
By his first marriage Sir Nicholas Mosley left three sons —
Rowland his successor, Anthony whose dissolute habits greatly
estranged him from his friends, and Edward a barrister of Gray's
Inn, M.P. for Preston, who became distinguished in his profession,
receiving the appointment of his Majesty's attorney -general of
the duchy of Lancaster and the honour of knighthood in 1614,
the purchaser of Rolleston, now the chief residence of the jNIosley
family.
Rowland Mosley Esq., eldest son of the testator, married first,
Anne, daughter of Humphrey Houghton of Manchester Gent.,
and was left a widower in 1613 with one only surviving child, a
daughter, Margaret, wife of William Whitmore of Appley in the
county of Salop Esq. Within a year of his wife's death he mar-
ried a second time, Anne, daughter of Francis Sutton Esq.,
sister and coheiress of Richard Sutton of Sutton in the county of
Chester Esq., by whom he left issue an only son, Edward, born in
1616, heir also to his uncle Sir Edward Mosley of Rolleston Knt.
Rowland Mosley Esq. w^as high sheriflf of Lancashire in 1616, in
which year he died. His inventory, dated March 31, 1617, re-
turns his goods and chattels at j62,709 15s. 2^d. The chief items
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 117
enumerated arc as follovrs : Plate^ guilt and unguilt, 1961' ; in
armor and munition, 9^^ ; 3 coaclie mares, 24ii . (he had fourteen
horses in all); in linnens, llo^i 2« 4^; in goukle and silver rodie
in the house, 1791^ 12^ 1"^; in debtes owingc to him, 654^1 7^ 1*^;
in bookes and one drumme, 3^^
Edward Mosley Esq., his only son and heir, was a staunch ad-
herent to the royal cause in the civil dissensions which agitated
the land during the reign of Charles I. In 1642 he placed Alport
Lodge, one of his residences situated in Deansgate, Manchester,
at the disposal of Lord Strange, when that nobleman laid siege to
Manchester in the King's name. In the following year he joined
a detachment of the royalist forces in Cheshire under Sir Thomas
Aston and Sir Vincent Corbet, and suffering defeat (March 3)
from the parliamentarians under Sir William Brereton, near Mid-
dlewich, was taken prisoner. After his release his estates Avere
sequestrated, and from an ordinance of Parhament dated Septem-
ber 21, 1647, we find them restored to him on payment of a fine
of J4,874 as the punishment of his " dehuquency ." His attach-
ment to the royal cause entailed upon him other heavy losses.
He advanced money on several occasions for the King's use, and
that to a large amount, and his property at Alport sustained much
injury, the house being burnt to the ground during the siege of
INIanchester. In 1640 his services were recognized by the King,
and a patent of baronetcy was granted to him. In 1642 he was
appointed high sheriff" of the county of Staff'ord. He died at
Hough's End in 16j7, having impoverished himself greatly by his
attachment to the King, as well as by his own extravagance.
Amongst the papers &c. left by Humphrey Chetham, the
Founder, and now deposited in the hospital in Manchester which
bears his name, is a series of letters relating to certain pecuniary
obligations incurred by Sir Edward. The total amount of the
debt owing to Mr. Chetham appears to have been about £4,000,
and the mother and sister of Sir Edward had become sureties for
its repayment. A Mr. Allestrye was also concerned in the nego-
ciation as a creditor of Sir Edward, and several letters written by
148 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
his brother, a lawyer, who conducted the business for him, are in-
cluded in the series. The repayment of the loan was guaranteed
by a bond dated August 20, 1641, and bearing the signatures of
Sir Edward, his mother, and sister; and though the agreement
between the contracting parties was but for one year, Mr. Chetham
does not seem to have thought of enforcing his claim for repay-
ment until after the expiration of several, years, satisfied probably
with the nature of his security and the rate of interest promised
(eight per cent, per ann.) for the accommodation. After a long
correspondence with Mrs. and Miss Mosley, Sir Edward's sureties,
to whom recourse was first had by Mr. Chetham in the belief that
they would be able to influence Sir Edward in making the restitu-
tion sought for, an action was commenced in the Court of Common
Pleas at Westminster, and judgment obtained against Sir Edward
in Trinity Term 1649. At this time Mr. Chetham's claim stood
as follows : —
The principall lent 24° August 1641 2000 00 00
Interest for 20001' from 24° August 1641 to
14" Martii 1649, being 8 yeares 6
monthes and 4 at 1601' p ann. w<=i^ is
13ii 6s 8^ p mensem, amounts to 1366 13 04
Charges of suit 0061 05 00
3427 17 04
Whereof reel December 1648 600 00 00
Soe remaines 14« Martij 1649 ... 2827 18 04
On the award being made. Sir Edward consented to a mortgage
of his Leicestershire estate as a means of satisfying Mr. Chetham's
claim. It was proposed moreover to make the estate available for
the liquidation of a like claim on the part of Mr. Allestrye, Sir
Edward stipulating for a power of redemption within ten years,
which was acceded to. Difficulties however arose in the legal
bearings of the question, and after the negociation had advanced
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 149
to some length, INIr. Clictliam, having obtained counsel's opinion,
declined to proceed further, and sought the repayment of his
money from some other less debatcablc source. What tliat source
was cannot now be ascertained, as the protracted correspondence on
the subject between Mr. Chetham and Mr. Allestrye here ceases.
The first letter is without date and is from Mrs. Anne Moslcy,
the mother of Sir Edward, addressed '•' For the right worshipfuUe
and my verie good friend Mr. Chittame at Cleaton p'sent this."
I have found you sooe kinde to me and mine that it dothe
imbouldins me to intrete you in my soons be halfe. My soon,
not abill to give you suche content as was fiting he should, was a
shamed to com to you; not nowe I trowe his foule bisnis was
herd this desenit [day se'nnight] and I thank God welended,
[well ended] for him. Divers of his frendes and contremen was
at the hering of it. Thowe the mater was nout^ yet it was not
sooe ill as she pretended it was. 1 pre God blese him forth of
shouche compency as she is. I hope it will be a warning to him
herafter to medill withe sache as she is. My desire is that you
will plese not to put your bound [bond] in sute at this terme.
He will dowe his in dever to give you content ; the latered of his
composiciou nowe is to be pede this terme, and that being doon I
hope he will give satisffacktion, whiche shale be the desire of her
that is your hombil frend.
Anne Mosley.
The next letter is written by Anne Mosley, the sister of Sir
Edward, and daughter of the above Anne INIosley. It is dated
" Houghend, this 4th of June, 1645," and is addressed " To the
right woorpii Humphery Cheatham Esquire at his house, Cleaton,
these present."
' A Lancashire word signifying bad, discreditable.
150 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Good S^
I am very sorrey that way wee have hearetofore discourst
of will not give you content, for I am confident, and have had the
opinion of verey good laweyrs, that you might have had a good as-
surance of it that way, and it would have added much to my con-
tent to have scene you sertine of that which would have brought
you your monyes in good tyme in these uncertine dayes, which I
pray God to amend, and then I doubt not but wee shall bee able
to performe with all ; but for haveing to doe this way which you
mention in your letter I cannot concent to. But if there bee any
other way you shall thinke of, I shall bee redy to give you the best
satisfaction I can ; and soe with my service to yon I take leave,
and remayne
Your honoring freind and servant,
AnxNe Mosley.
1 am sorry you should doubte of mee that I Avould not
ether have returned you your pledge or security to your minde,
for 1 assure you I mene nothing but iustly. — ^My mother presents
her love to you.
From the same to the same.
Worthy S^,
I thanke you for yo'' last paynes and kyndnesse and for
that greate favo'' yoil were then pleased to aftbard me in yo'' pa-
tient forbearance of my brother's debt, wherein I was then in good
hope you would have received satisfaccon before this tyme. I un-
derstand my brother hath bene lately vf^^ you, and I feare hath
bene more free in his promises then in p'formance. I beseech
you give me leave (beinge imboldened by yo"^ former curtesies)
once more to become an earnest suito'' to you for a little further
forbearance, W^^ (God willinge) shall not be in any wise preiudi-
ciall unto you. I am uppon Monday next for my jorney to
London, where I intend to make a finall conclusion for my owne
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 151
busincsse w^'^ S"" Saraucll Sleigh concerninge the money he is to
pay me, and shall lykewise (I hope) putt an end to some thinge
betweenc my brother and mc, and att my returnc from London,
which I feare will be neere Midsomer (if my brotlicr in the meane
tyme satisfye you not) my mother and my selfe will assuredly (if
God blesse us w*'^ lyfe) passe over unto you o'" intcreste in the
Leicestershire landes, w^^ wee are nowe ascerteyned from a freind
in Leicester are of the fully yearlie value of seaven hundred
poundes or neare thereaboutes. This shall be my last request
unto you in this businesse, W^i^ if I may obteyne shall be added to
my former ingagem^^^ Thus for the p'formance of what I have
here undertaken you shall have that w^h I shall ever tenderly
p'serve, viz* the wordes and promise of
Your much obUged freind and servant,
Anne Moslev.
The enclosed note conteyneth the rent of Beamond
Leas alone, besydes w''^ wee have in o^ security
Glenfeild mannC and Jelly rowe, w* will make
up the yearlie soiiie I mencon in my ire.
This letter is addressed " To my much hono^'i freind Humfrey
Chethara Esq. att Turton theise present;" and is endorsed by
him, ''Mrs. Anne Mosley Ire reed 25 Apr. 1648."
From the same to the same.
I cannot but acknowledge yo"^ greate respect in yo"^ longe
and patient forbearance, w^h I hope in the conclusion will be in
noe wise preiudiciall to you. I am newly come from London, and
soe soone as I have a little rested my selfe I intend to come to
Houghe End, and then to wayt uppon you and to give you the
best satisfaccon I maye ; onely I desire (if it may be) that my
brother might discharge it himselfe as he hath promised, and as
Mr. Allestrye affirmed his intencon really was to pay you a good
soiiie before Bartholemewtyde ; but if that fayle I shall not re-
153 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
cede from any thinge I have formerly promised to yoUj whereof be
pleased to rest assured. From,
S'j your much obliged freind and servant,
Sutton, 6^^ Junii, 1648. Anne Mosley.
Addressed "To my much hono^'^ freind Humfrey Cheatham
Esquire att Cleytou theise present."
The next letter in the series is signed by the mother and sister
of Sir Edward, and, like the preceding letters, entreats the con-
tinued forbearance of Mr. Chetham.
After yo'' longe and extraordinary patience, if you will be
pleased to add a further forbearance of putting o'^ bond in suite
till Michaellmas next, and that in the meane tyme you receive
not such satisfaccon as you shall lyke of from the principall, wee
will assuredly att that tyme either convey unto you o^ estate in
the Leicestershire landes or otherwise satisfye you accordinge as
you shall desire. And for yo^ better assurance hereof wee sub-
scribe Qi" selves
Yo^ very lovinge and much obliged freindes,
Anne Mosley.
Anne Mosley.
Addressed "To o^ much hon^"^^ freind Humfrey Chetham Esq"^.
att Cleayton theise present ;" endorsed by him, " Mrs. Mosley
and her daughter Mrs. Anne, June 15, 1648."
From Mr. William Allestrye to Miss Anne Mosley.
M"s Mosley,
Haveing imparted yo'' letter to yo^ brother bee is very
sorrye you should bee put to any troble concerneinge his occa-
sions. Wee intended this suiuer to have beene in Lancashire and
to have made an end w*^ INIr. Cheetam before now, but the trobles
in those p'tes p'vented us. Yo^ brother desires to knowe from Mr.
Cheetam what bee expects from him for interest for the time past ;
hee hopes hee will deale well with him therein. However hee is
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 153
resolved to rcferr it to him, and yf hee doe not pay Mr. Cheetam
both principall and interest be fore Christmas next, or att least
make paym* of one halfc and such securitye as hee shall like of
for the other halfe, he is contented yo" should assignc yC estate
in Beamont Leas to him for his security ; but yf Mr. Cheetam
will lett him knowe his utmost demand both for principall and
interest and when hee expects paym*, hee is resolved be fore
Christmas to give him satisfaccon ; and in regard p'sent sale may
bee losse to yoJ' brother, hee hopes upon satisfaccon given to Mr.
Cheetam yo" will assigne over yo^ estate to whome yo'" brother ap-
poynts. This is all wee shall now troble yo" w* onely desire a
speedy answere from Mr. Cheetam, to Avhome there is nothinge
intended but iust dealeinge from
Yo'' true freind and ready servant,
Derby, 5 Octob'", 1648. Willm. Allestkve.
I fully agree to this letter,
Edw. Mosley.
From Humphreij Chetham Esq. to Miss Anne Mosley.
M^is Mosley,
My tender respect to your reputacon especialie and your
ffrends bound w^^^ you, have caused mee att your request agayne
and agayne, ffrom yeare to yeare and from tearrae to tcarme, to
fforbeare my great sorne of mony w^ii should longe since have
beene p'^ me, and wherin I have undergonne great hasard these
troublesome tymes, wherin I did not doubt but ray courtesie
would have beene answered w^i^ more correspondent respect ffrom
you, and especialie that whereas by your last importunetie you
ingaged your selfe w*^ your mother, under both your hands, that
yf I would but fforbeare untill Micklemas now past, I should
w^i'out ffayle have satisfaxio, wti\ altliough I have continued my
patience even to the outemost of your desier, yet I ffynd noe
p'fformance ffrom you. Once agayne therffore I shall beseech
you that you will give mee noe longer cause to suspect your truth
and good meaning towards mee, but doe that W^'' both the lawe of
154 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
God and man requires ffrom you, and w* you may doe wti^out
p'iudice or detrement to your selfe when you please, and soe I
shall ever rest
Your ffaythful flfreind and servant,
Octobr 6^^, 1648. HuMFREY Chetham.
From Miss Anne Mosley to Humphrey Chetham Esq.
Worthy S^,
I am not unmyndfuU of yo'' longe forbearance from tyme
to tyme nor of my ingagement to you under my hand. I have
earnestly endeavoured yo"" satisfaccon from my brother by apply-
inge my selfe to his counsell, from whome I received the inclosed,
to W=^ I intreate yo"" present answere to soe much as p'ticulerly
concernes yo^ selfe, w'=^ I shall speed to my brother and returne
you his answere. I acknowledge yo"" greate respectes, and shall
(God willinge) soe tenderly preserve my reputacon in the right
p^formance of what I have promised that you shall have noe cause
of complaint against me ; yet I desire, soe farre as iustly I may,
to p'forme that sisterly respect that befittes to a brother w^^^out
preiudice to you, or any intention, the least tittle, to recede from
what I have undertaken to you, unlesse by yo' owne cosent. And
soe be pleased, good S"", to understand me, and to beleeve that I
am
S'", your verey much obliged freind and servant,
Sutton, 7" Octobr, 1648. Anne Mosley.
Addi'cssed "■ fFor my truly hono'^'i ffreind Humfrey Chetham Esq""
att Cleyton tlieise."
This was followed by letters excusing further delay, dated re-
spectively October 16, 23, and 30, all written by Miss Mosley.
On the 3rd of November she again addresses Mr. Chetham,
expressing a hope that an interview which had recently taken
place between him and her brother had been attended with
satisfactory results ; and after this an interval of two months
elapses before the correspondence is resumed.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 155
From Mr. Allestrye to Humphrey Chetham Esq.
Yesterday I received two letters from you, yet by sev'all
hands. I did about a week sinee writ to you w''^ I hope by this
tyme you have received. By yo"" last I presume you are willing to
let S"" Edward have the power of redempcon himself, so he allowe
yo"^ w'^^i my brother is likewise content to doe. As yet I
have not spoken w^^^ S"^ Edw. Moseley, but I purpose uppo Satur-
day to ride over to lime, and yf I find him to deale cleverely w'^
me and deliv' me his ancient evidences and conclude w*^"^ me how
the £8,000 shall be paid, then I will forth w*^ drawe the aftr ....
and send them to you. However you shall by the next und^'stand
what end wee make. Soe w^^^ my best respects presente unto you
I rest
YoJ" very loving freind and ready servant,
Derby, 3 January, Willm. Allestrye.
Addressed To his "much honoured freind Humphry Chetham
Esq. at his house at Cleyton these ;" endorsed " M'' Allestree, 3"
Jan. 1649."
From Mrs. Anne Mosley to Humphrey Chetham Esq.
I and my douter Anne have allwes found you sooe fafrabill
to hous since wee were com to be bound to you in the grete soom
of mone for my sone, and nowe he is Aviling to give you foule sa-
tisfacktiou for all that is past and acording to the a griment at
London of your selfe or by your selister and Mr. Allastre. It was
a gride that you and Mr. Allastre should have an absolute bargin
of Lestersher land, and then you and Mr. Allastre was contented
to sellc a dafasanes [?] to my soon, that when your moneye was
pede to you withe in suche a time as it was a gride on at London,
my sone was to enter on his laud a gene. My desire is, that as
you have bine kind to hous at all times that you will be plesed to
show hous sooe much kindnes to conferme the agriment allrede
156 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
concluded on ; in soe doing you shall oblige hous to pre for your
hapenes. And soe I rest
Your faithful frend,
Anne Mosley.
Addressed "To my honoured frend Humphrey Cheetom Esq*'
at his house at Cleton these p'sent."
From the same to the same.
I did here that my sone sent oup Mr, Brogrefe [? Borough-
reeve] to conclude of the agriment betwixt him selfe and you and
Mr. AUestrey. I thinke my coson Nikolas Mosley of the Cohhorst
was on for my sone, and I am a shoured he was on at the agre-
ment that was a gride on at London. I could have wised withe
all my harte that my soon hade bine as wiling to have a gride to
you at ferst as nowe he is willing to have a ende made on it. My
coson Nikolas tould me that he would com to you this wike to
tolke withe you a bout this bisnis, and ether this wike or the be
gining of the next wik he ment to gooe to Mr. Alestrey to speke
withe him a bout this bisnises truly. I herde of seven pounde in
the hondred that the wer a gride on at London, but to demand
eite pound in the hondred more then was a gride on it is nowe
Mr. Alestray dowing and not yours. Howe ever I hope my sone
will give you content if it liee in his poure. I can give no absolit
answer for my sone, but I will send to my coson Nikolas Mosley
to see if hee will gooe to speke to my soone and Mr. Allastrye,
whiche I hope he will dowe, and if he will not I will send on to
them my selfe, thowe I knowe non is sooe fit to gooe as he is. I
hope he will dowe sooe that all thes bisnisis mite be endes. Thus
withe my servis I rest
Your obliged frend,
Anne Mosley.
Addressed " To the writ worshipfoule my honered frend houm-
frey Chitom esquire present this -j" endorsed " M"^ Moseley, Jan^y
1649.^'
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 157
Frojn Humphrey Chetham Esq. to Mr. Allestrye.
I writt to yo" about three weekes since in answer of yo'' tre
sent mee fro Loudon, to signify unto yo" my aprobacou of yo'' pro-
positions touching ye purchase of y« Leicester shire landes. I in-
closed also a copy of y^ lease according to yo"" desire, and haveing
rec'^ noe answer fro yo^ in a fortnightes time, about a wceke agoe
I sent yo" a copy of my form^" lest the former should miscarried.
I doubt not but either my first ire or the late copy of it, or both,
are or Avill shortly come unto you, to which I desire some speedy
answer, yt if there bee any stop in y^ accompHshm* of those
prtences and offers made by S^ Edward or his freinds for giving
satisfaccon of my debt by sale of the landes 1 may not bee delayed
upon such expectacons from takeiug my remedy y^ best way I can.
I have little to adde to what I have formerly written, but onely
this, that I p'ceive S^^ Edw. hath writt to his mother that hee de-
sires a power of redempcon for himselfe : his mother also desires
the same. Now if wee have the rentes duely paid to us in the
meane time, and that both hee and his childes freinds are more
willing and thinke it safer to have it soe, I cannot see any more
inconvenience to us to leave y« redempcon in him paying 8^' p cent,
then if his sonne have it at 7ii. Howsoever I gave an absolute de-
niall to leave S"^ Edward any such power, because I knew not how
you might approve of it, by whom I must bee very much guided
in this busines, inasmuch as you are able in divers respectes to
foresee many advantages or inconveniences which I cannot; soe
that I am resolved not to make any promises or agreem^s before I
understand yo"^ opinion thereof. Soe with y« rembr of my due re-
spectes I rest, &c.
Endorsed, "L're to M'AUestre, Jan. 13° 1649."
The result of this correspondence, as already stated, was an
action brought by Mr. Chetham against Sir Edward for the
recovery of his debt, in which a verdict was given in the plaintiff's
favour.
158 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Sir Edward Mosley was succeeded by his son Edward, the se-
cond baronet of the name, then in his minority, but who in 1661,
having by that time reached full age, was returned to Parhament
as M.P. for St. Michael's, in the county of Cornwall. This repre-
sentative of the family purchased the Hulme estate from the
Prestwich family, and obtained an act of Parliament confirming
the sale in 1661. He married Katharine, daughter of William
Lord Grey of Wark, and dying without issue in 1665 brought to
a close the male line in direct descent from Sir Nicholas Mosley
the lord mayor of London.
His will is dated December 18, 1660, wherein he describes him-
self as of Rolleston, in the county of Stafford, baronet. He com-
mends his soul to God, and desires that his body may be decently
buried in Didsbury Church, willing his funeral expenses "to bee
moderate, not exceedinge eight hundred pounds nor less than
400^^" He gives to Anne Mosley, his grandmother, the several
lands &c. called The Roger Fields, The Woodhends, The Great
Bent, The Little Bent, The Edmund Acre, The Mosley Meadow,
The Great and Little Priest Field, and all the boones and services
(other than the rents) reserved or payable out of his lands or
tenements, parcel of the manor of Heaton Norris, for her natural
life. To his aunt Mosley he gives for her life the five Park Fields,
the farm called the Turve Mosse, all his lands in Chorlton, and all
that capital messuage called The Hough End, now in the occu-
pation of his grandmother, being her jointure. To his cousin
Nicholas Mosley of Ancoats and his heirs he gives all his lands,
tenements &c. in the county of Derby; all his lands, tenements,
mill and coalpits in Kersley, in the county of Lancaster ; all his
lands and tenements which were conveyed to him by his said
grandmother, lying in the county of Chester ; all that his farm in
Staffordshire, called The Barley Fields ; and all his lands in New-
ton Lane, in the county of Lancaster. To his cousin Anthony
Mosley, citizen of London, he gives for his life all that his farm,
called Tudbury Woodhouse, in the county of Stafford ; and after
his decease he gives the same to his (testator's) cousin Anthony
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 159
Mosley, grandchild to tlic aforesaid Anthony, and the heirs male
of his body. To his cousin Anne Mosley of Collyhurst he gives
all that his farm and lands and mill now in her tenure and occu-
pation in Collyhurst ; to have and to hold the same for a term of
thirty-one years, to commence after the determination of a lease
thereof made by Sir Edward Mosley, his father, to Mr. Francis
Mosley, her grandfather. To Mr. John Aleyn of Gray's Inn —
[here follows an erasure of eight lines in the will, and a marginal
note dated August 10, 1663, "upon the death of Mr. Aleyn I have
cancelled the gift of the land I intended to have given him.'']
He gives to Richard Crowder and his heirs all that his tenement
in Davyhulme now in the tenure or occupation of the -widow
Faulkner, and also those three several tenements heretofore let to
him the said Richard Crowther for two lives, lying in Manchester
aforesaid; to hold the same for a term of thirty-one years. To
John Bate and his heirs he gives the tenement in Davyhulme now
in the tenure of Thomas Rogers. To Mary Barlow, wife of John
Barlow his servant, all that his tenement in Lowstock, called Ott-
well's Tenement. He gives to his executors and their heirs all
that his tenement in Davyhulme, now in the tenure of James
ShaAv, " in trust for the keepinge of a schoole and sehoolemaster
in Didsbury aforesaid, to bee setled accordeinge to the discrecon
of my execute''*." He gives to his executors his manors of j\Ian-
chester, Hulme and Cheadle, in trust for the payment of his debts,
legacies and funeral expenses, or so much of them as his personal
estate shall not suffice to satisfy. All the rest of his lands, estate
of inheritance in fee-simple, he gives to his sister Mary Mosley
and her heirs for ever, directing that if his cousin Nicholas INIosley
aforesaid, or his heirs, shall oppose or disturb the execution of this
his (testator's) will, that then his devise made to the said Nicholas
Mosley of the tenements and premises aforesaid shall be utterly
void and of no eflfect. He constitutes as his executors his loving
aunt Anne Mosley and Mr. John Aleyn of Gray's Inn ; revoking
all former wills and reserving power to himself by any codicil or
codicils to make such other devises or bequests as to himself shall
seem meet. "Witnesses : Nicholas Burwell, Ri. Criche.
160 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
It seems certain that the provisions of the above abstracted will
never took eJEfect^ although the document itself (or rather a tran-
script of it) has found a resting-place in the Bishop^s Registry at
Chester^ as if duly proved. In the " Family Memoirs " of the
Mosleys a later disposition of his property is said to have been
made by the testator, the second will bearing date October 13,
1665, within a week of his death. By this will he directs that, in
the event of his dying without male issue, all his manors, lord-
ships, messuages, tenements and hereditaments should, after the
expiration of the term of fifteen years, descend to his cousin Ed-
ward Mosley, son of Edward Mosley of Hulme Esq. and great
grandson of Anthony Mosley of Ancoats Esq., the younger brother
of Sir Nicholas Mosley Knt., and to his heirs male, and for want
of such issue then to the said Edward Mosley Esq. and his heirs
male, upon condition, nevertheless, that the same Edward Mosley
the father, or his executors, shall within five years after his (testa-
tor^s) decease, purchase with his OAvn money, but to be reimbursed
unto him or them with interest out of the profits, rents and issues
of the said premises hereby by testator demised as aforesaid unto
his said cousin Edward Mosley and his heirs (so soon as may be
after the fifteen years ended and expired), so much land &c. within
the realm of England as the purchase thereof will bona fide amount
and come to £7,000, of and for a good estate in fee-simple in the
names of himself and his (testator's) aunt Anne Mosley ; and that
they and their heirs shall within six months after such purchase
settle, convey and assure the same to the use of the said Nicholas
Mosley and his assigns for his life, and after his decease to the
said Oswald Mosley and his heirs male, with other remainders
over to all the other sons of the said Nicholas, and for want of
such issue then to the use of the said Edward Mosley Esq., his
heirs and assigns for ever. And in case his (testator's) cousin
Edward Mosley Esq., his executors or administrators, shall fail or
neglect in the purchase and settlement of the same lands, then
the uses before herein limited of his (testator^s) said own lands
unto the said Edward Mosley the son and the heirs male of his
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 161
body, and tc the said Edward INIosley tlic father and the heirs
male of his body, shall cease, end and determine, and then and in
that case, or in case of the performance of the said condition, and
that the said Edward, son of the said Edward Mosley Esq., and
the said Edward ^Mosley Esq., shall both of them die without male
issue, then he bequeaths all his aforesaid manors, lordships &c.
(except before herein excepted) unto his said aunt Anne Mosley
and his said cousin Edward Mosley Esq. and their heirs, to the
intent and purposes and upon trust and confidence that the said.
Anne Mosley and Edward Mosley Esq., or their heirs, shall settle
the reversions and remainders thereof upon such of the sons of
the said Nicholas Mosley as they shall think most fit and most
worthy and hopeful, and to the heirs male of his or their bodies,
with other remainders over to such other persons of the name and
blood of him the said Sir Edward Mosley and to the heirs male of
their bodies, as to the said Anne Mosley and Edward Mosley Esq.
and their heirs shall be thought fit, for it is his desire that his said
lands and tenements &c. shall and may remain in his name and
blood so long as it shall please God to permit the same.
Edward Mosley of Hulme, or, as he afterwards became. Sir Ed-
ward Mosley Knt., on whom the estates were by the latter will
entailed, was the second son of Oswald Mosley of Ancoats Esq.
and grandson of Anthony Mosley Esq. of the same place, the
younger brother of Sir Nicholas, He was a barrister of some
eminence, and was one of the commissioners for the administra-
tion of justice in Scotland, an office continued to him dviring the
period of the Commonwealth. Scarcely had he taken possession
when he was menaced on all sides by threats of legal proceedings
on the part of claimants under both wills of the deceased baronet,
threats which were speedily carried into execution. Mary Mosley,
the testator's only sister, to whom the reversion of several valuable
estates had been bequeathed under the first will, finding herself
altogether disinherited by the second, disputed through her hus-
band, Joseph Maynard Esq., the validity of the later instrument.
Another action was entered against him, as principal executor, by
Y
162 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
the creditors of the late baronet to compel the payment of their
several debts^ whilst a third suit was commenced in chancery by
his brother Nicholas to enforce the performance of that part of
the will which had relation to himself and the provision designed
for him by the testator. At length, after much contention, terms
were agreed upon and a partition of the estates took place, con-
templated by neither of the disputed documents. The Leicester-
shire property, consisting of the manor of Glenfield and lands in
Kirkby Anstey and Thurcaston passed to Joseph Maynard Esq. in
right of his Avife Mary. The reversion of the Staffordshire estates,
after the death of Lady North (widow of the testator), who held
them in jointure, were secured to Oswald Mosley Esq., eldest son
of Nicholas Mosley of Ancoats, deceased, in lieu of the £7,000 to
be invested in land for his benefit ; the manor of Manchester also
to be left to him and his heirs by the will of his uncle Edward,
subject to a life interest in favour of his (Edward's) daughter Ann,
the wife of Sir John Bland Bart., in case he should die without
males issue ; whilst the rest of the property, consisting of Bread-
sail Park or Priory in the county of Derby, of Hulme Hall and
manor, Hough or Hough End Hall and all the lands in Didsbury,
Witbington, Heaton Norris and Chorlton, in the county of Lancas-
ter, and Cheadle Mosley near Stockport in the county of Chester,
were still to remain at the free disposal of Sir Edward Mosley.'
Sir Edward Mosley Knt. married Jane INIeriel, daughter of Rich-
ard Saltonstall of Huntwick in the county of York Gent., who sur-
vived him. In 1689 he was knighted by William IIL at White-
hall. He died in 1695, leaving an only daughter and heiress (his
three sons, Nicholas, Edward and Francis having preceded him to
the tomb) Anne, wife of Sir John Bland of Kippax in the county
of York Bart. He was buried at Didsbury. In his will, dated
May 24, 1695, he is described as Sir Edward Mosley of Hulme
Knight. He resigns his soul with all humihty and thr.nkfulness
to God, his Creator, Bedeemer and Sanctifier, and his body to the
grave, to be privately interred without all unnecessary charge.
He gives, devises and bequeaths the manors of Withington and
' Family/ Memoirs, by Sir Oswald Mosley Ban,, p. 29.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 163
Heaton Norris, with all the hinds &c. to the same belonging (ex-
cept such parts thereof as were settled at the marriage of his
daughter with Sir John Bland, and except one tenement therein,
called Burehe's Tenement, at the Moss-side, which he gives to his
sister Mosley of the Ancoats and to her heirs for ever), to his son-
in-law Sir John Bland and to his daughter the Lady Bland during
their lives and tlie life of the survivor of them ; and after the death
of his said daughter and son-in-law Sir John Bland, he gives and
devises the same to the first, second and other sons of the said Sir
John Bland and the said Lady Bland successively and to the heirs
male of the body of such sons successively, and for want of such
issue, and also as to all the rest of the lands &c. settled on the
said Sir John Bland and the said Lady Bland and their sons suc-
cessively at the time of their marriage, to the sons of his (testa-
tor's) said daughter the Lady Bland begotten by any other hus-
band successively and to their heirs male ; with remainder to his
nephew Oswald Mosley of the Ancoats Esq. and his heirs for ever,
chargeable, notwithstanding, with a clear yearly rent of £150, to
be paid to his (testator's) wife out of the rents and profits of the
said lands &c., to be paid to her by half yearly payments at Mi-
chaelmas and Lady Day. And further, that the sum of four
pounds per annum shall be yearly paid out of the rents and profits
of the same unto the churchwardens of the church of Didsbury for
the use of the poor of Withington and Heaton Norris aforesaid, to
be paid yearly until some lands of the like value shall be settled
upon them for ever. And his further will and mind is, that the
said manors of Withington and Heaton Norris shall be in lieu and
satisfaction of all covenants and engagements made in the settle-
ment made at his said daughter's marriage ; and his further will
and mind is, that if his said daughter the Lady Bland die without
issue male, so that the said estate come into the hands of his said
nephew Oswald Mosley or his heirs, that then the said estate shall
remain and be chargeable with the payment of £5,000 unto or for
the use of the daughter or daughters of the said Lady Bland as
they shall be living at the time of Lady Bland's decease. Also,
he gives his two tenements at or near Bury in Lancashire afore-
164 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
said to his son-in-law Sir John Bland and his heirs for ever in lieu
and satisfaction of one tenement in Withington, which he (testator)
sold to William Alcock ; and his desire is that his said son-in-law
Sir John Bland will not alter or question that deed or any other
deed, lease, contract or agreement which he (testator) has made
with his tenants or others, but will confirm the same. Also, he
gives the manor of Hulme in the county of Lancaster, together
with one field adjoining thereunto called the Lower Lodge Ground,
to his dear and loving wife during her life, which with what he has
before given and devised unto her is in lieu and satisfaction of her
dower ; and after the death of his said wife he gives and devises
the same to his said daughter the Lady Bland, with remainder as
before to her sons in succession, with remainder to his (testator's)
nephew Oswald Mosley and his heirs for ever. Also, he gives and
bequeaths that tenement in Cheadle in the county of Chester, now
or late in the possession of Mr. Kelsall, to his brother Francis
Mosley and his heirs male. Also, he gives the manor of Cheadle
in the county of Chester aforesaid, except the said tenement called
KelsalFs Tenement, to his said daughter the Lady Bland, with re-
mainder as before to her sous in succession, with remainder to his
nephew Oswald Mosley and his heirs for ever. Also, he gives the
manor of Manchester in the county of Lancaster, and all other his
messuages, lands, tenements, &c., not before herein disposed of,
except the said field called the Lower Lodge Ground, to his said
daughter during her life, with remainder to his nephew Oswald
Mosley and his heirs for ever, — upon this condition, nevertheless,
that what he (testator) has before hereby given and bequeathed to
his said nephew Oswald Mosley and his heirs is only given upon
this condition, that if the said Oswald Mosley, his heirs or assigns
shall any way disturb, hinder or oppose this settlement by will, or
any part thereof, or shall lay claim to any part of the said manors,
lands, &c., otherwise than as is hereby hmited, appointed and set-
tled upon his said nephew Oswald Mosley, that then, and in that
case, his will is, that all the estates to him the said Oswald Mosley
and his heirs before hereby bequeathed shall be void and cease and
determine, and that the same shall remain and come to his (tes-
PAROCHIAL C'lIAl'KL OF DIDSBURY. IfiO
tator's) said daugliter the Lady Bland and to licr heirs for ever.
Also, he gives and bequeaths three pounds per annum, to be paid
yearly for twenty-one years, unto the preacher at Didsbury that
shall be there by eonsent of the lord of the manors of Withiugton
and Heatou Norris, to be paid by the said lord for the time being
out of the rents and profits of the said lordships. Also, he gives
to his sister Case twenty pounds, and to Mr. Henry Neweome the
elder twenty pounds. Also, he gives fifty pounds to be distributed
amongst his domestic servants at the discretion of his executrix.
He makes his loving wife his sole executrix, revoking all other
wills formerly made. Witnesses : John Frankland, William Gar-
nett, Nat. Corles.
The marriage of Anne, daughter and heiress of Sir Edward
Mosley with Sir John Bland was solemnized in 1685 at Chorlton
Chapel, and, notwithstanding the fair promise of happiness at first
aflForded, it proved most disastrous. Sir John gave early indica-
tions of a love of dissipation, and with the increased opportunities
of indulgence furnished by his wife's ample fortune he threw oflF all
restraint, and by his addiction to the gaming-table reduced himself
to the verge of ruin. He was chosen representative of the bo-
rough of Appleby in Westmoreland, and afterwards sat for Ponte-
fract in Yorkshire. He died in 1715, and was buried at Didsbury,
where a monument was erected to his memory, conveying any-
thing but a true estimate of his character. His widow long sur-
vived him, and made Hulme Hall her principal residence. On
the 18th of Ma}', 1709, she laid the foundation stone of St. Ann's
Church, Manchester, which was so named in compliment to her;
she was one of the chief contributors to the cost of its erection,
and at its consecration, July 17, 1712, gave also a portion of the
communion plate and the velvet covering for the communion table.
She died in 1734, and was buried at Didsbury.
Her will is dated June 20, 1721, in which she describes herself as
Dame Anne Bland of Hulme in the county of Lancaster, widow and
relict of Sir John Bland, late of Kippax Park in the county of York,
Bart, deceased. She commends her soul to Almighty God, hoping
through the satisfaction and righteousness of Christ, her Redeemer,
166 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
to be made partaker of eternal happiness ; and her body she com-
mits to the earth, to be decently buried at Didsbury as conveni-
ently to her late dear husband Sir John Bland deceased as may be,
at the discretion of her executor. And as for all her real and per-
sonal estate, she gives and bequeaths the same in manner and form
following : First, she wills her just debts, funeral charges and ex-
penses of probate to be paid and satisfied. She then recites cer-
tain articles of agreement, bearing date November 3, 1720, made
between herself and her son-in-law Thomas Davison of Blakiston
in the county of Durham Esq., wherein she promises to pay the
said Thomas Davison the sum of one thousand pounds on the day
of her death ; in pursuance of which covenant and agreement she
hereby directs the payment of the aforesaid sum, declaring it to be
in full satisfaction and discharge of and for all such covenants and
agreements as she has entered into in the aforesaid articles. She
gives and devises to her daughter IMeriel Jacob her best pair of
diamond ear-rings and also the sum of one hundred pounds. She
charges her manor and lordship of AYithington and all and every
her messuages, lands, rents, &c. in Withington, and all other her
manors, lands, &c. whatsoever and wheresoever, as well with the
payment of all her debts, funeral charges and legacies, as with the
payment of such debts of her late husband Sir John Bland as she
stands obliged to pay ; which manors, lands, rents, &c. so charged
she leaves to her son Sir John Bland of Kippax Park in the county
of York Bart., to have and to hold the same so charged and charge-
able as aforesaid to her said son Sir John Bland, his heirs, execu-
tors, administrators and assigns for ever. She constitutes her said
son Sir John Bland executor of this her will, and revokes all former
wills. And further, it is her earnest request to her said son Sir
John Bland, that in case of failure of issue of his body he would
sometime in his lifetime, either by will or any other writing, con-
vey and settle the said real estate or so much thereof as he shall
stand seised of at the time of his decease, as that the same may
come and be enjoyed by her said daughter Meriel Jacob and by
the heirs of her body ; and for default of such issue, by her (testa-
trix) grandson Thomas Davison and the heirs of his body ; and for
r-^ O
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 167
default of such issue, that the same may come and be enjoyed by
her cousin Francis jNIosley of Kolleston in the county of Stafford,
clerk, for and during the term of his natural life, and after his de-
cease by the first son and all and every other son and sons of the
body of her said cousin Francis Mosley begotten successively in tail
male — the elder of such son and sons and the heirs males of his
and their body and bodies being ever preferred before the younger
and the heirs males of his and their body and bodies. In witness
whereof, &e. Witnesses : G. Pigot, Jno. Greene, Will. Broome.
Lady Anne Bland died, as has been already stated, in 1734, and
Avas succeeded in the inheritance by her son Sir John Bland, who
both bore his father's name and shared his father's vices. The
provision made in the later clauses of her will for perpetuating the
descent of the estates iu her family was frustrated by the reckless
extravagance of the new heir, who soon completed the ruin com-
menced by his father. Hulme manor passed in 1751 to George Lloyd
of Manchester Esq., and the manor of Withington about the same
time to the Egertons of Tatton, in Avhom it is at present vested.
Hough End, for several generations the residence of the Mosley
family, was erected in the later years of the reign of Elizabeth,
and, though always of modest proportions, may yet be considered
a fair example of the style of domestic architecture of the period.
At the present day, with its ivy-covered walls, its clustered chim-
neys and its gabled roof, it presents a picturesque and pleasing
appearance. It is built entirely of stone, and comprises a centre
with a bay at each end a little advanced from the main structure ;
the latter, of three stories, lighted by square-headed windows di-
vided into lights by substantial stone mullions, and transomed,
the upper structure gabled and ornamented with the usual ball
ornament of the period. The centre is of two stories only, hghted
by windows similar in character to those just described, and sur-
mounted by a parapet forming a triplet gable. The entrance ap-
pears to have been originally by a gabled porch at the east end of
the building, but this has since been built up and its place sup-
plied by a doorway penetrating the south front. Tt is now occu-
pied as a farm-house.
168
5 a
so
« c^
rt S a
be::: o
Ur^
£>=«
<<•> o
•^sm ;h
pill "
o
=oS^c5 1
ley=
ur-
■ett
ied
§f^g-=i
r* S C5 'O g^
— ^ 0! f5 o
"* -— ^'r; ■"• *"*
c3 n 'J^^, a
^^ ^"3 »
d o-Ss^
"ll
^a ="■«
^R^'og
, >. fc< tH P<
■g S c3 OJi
i;«s1§
>>
_2
o2
*:; c«
c
.-^ 1
-2 "
c« S a g
>>
m
•S
•c
■ri
^
o
ci
r--
-•-;
(1)
^2
& O O M +3
— » 5S 06
.n « r-l
u ^
• 5 o
a 0-" tH
a . "
f^lj'-'tj >
^ ° m ,'-'
a rt « S rt
<1 PrfiiAS
.5g a-a
a -d S
< b: 2j rt
^§SS,a
sW-d aS
cs a o o ra
' CO
rt;
o S in
2 =«
Id
.2 f'-W
u -
tlO . (U -1
1-3W I
II
W- a^S ie
--Ma) .ii
b "S = •" Q
P c3 t. 5 jj
•i-i c3 (X) i^ O '-' CO
"d .
a 03
,0
r^
c
>.
^^
rt
p.
<1J
,0
r-<
j3
0)
D
a
h
^
.-aS
• '^ a
is'
- » ti r« "- ° "3 ^
'' tJ ■-' E a 3 0)
2 :? == J5 o t- ^
<) M W
aS-'o-
I' J5
»^ o
feKii
is
(D 0
a
— 0
a
£, 5 S
^
Sq-s
,
:~
, _ 0
rt
3i3
W !>.;
'*^ ^ ■" ^^ -^ '/^ >»
a 3-S-3 o s- fct
c3 C3
:^^-H
1 OJ
*»•!- rJ '^ — -' --<
p ° &^ -1 3 "3
a o
•'ofe
o~ g .„ j^^ ^
i-H ^H -M '^ c-i ri
I
)'§2
a o
i; t. ^5 Ma
- 2 '- ° '>
a -*j-*j M 2
ci fta-3
Hi
1^,0 < c3 00
■35550
171
-c3=: 2 5 si
g g. .-aft
172 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
TOWNSHIP OF BURNAGE.
This small township lies five miles south-south-east from Man-
chester, and includes the hamlets of Green End and Lady Barn,
the former probably deriving its name from its verdure as con-
trasted with the surrounding neighbourhood, and the latter of
uncertain derivation, said to take its name from the erection of a
barn or grange by Lady Anne Bland, but in reality so designated
as early as 1638, in which year John and Thomas Shalcross of
Ladie Barn pledge themselves to the payment of £2 3s. due to the
minister of Didsbury, and even earlier, in the will of Sir Nicholas
Mosley dated 1612.
Burnage is bounded on the north by Withington, Rusholme
and Levenshulme ; on the south by Didsbury and Heaton Norris ;
on the east by Heaton Norris ; and on the west by Withington.
Its area, according to Rickman's computation in the Census
Returns of 1831, is 610 acres; according to the Tithe Commis-
sioners in their return of 1851, 658 acres; the Ordnance Survey
makes it 666a. Or. 29p. ; and Messrs. Johnson 677 acres. Its
name is anciently written Brownegge, Bro nonage, Brownedge,
Bromwich and Bromagc, — and its etymology is a disputable
point ; Bran, braun, brun, bourn signifying a rivulet or stream, and
also a boundary or limit : — Brin, brind, brand, bur, burn from
brennen (German) or Bernan (Saxon) signifies also to burn, —
hence the word brand, a piece of burning wood. The latter
syllable in the word signifies in the Anglo-Saxon a brink, margin
or extremity.
In the extent or survey of the manor of Manchester, taken in the
15 Edward II. (1322), it is stated that "in Brownegge there are
356 acres of pasture in common for the tenants of Heton [Norris]
and Withington ; nevertheless the lord may appropriate to himself
136 acres of pasture there, worth thirty-four shillings, at three pence
per acre, besides a sufficiency of pasture for those commons which
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSIiURY. 173
John dc Biron, John de Langford and John de Langton have cul-
tivated and enclosed." This acreage, Lancashire measure as no
doubt it was, would include nearly the whole township, for the
Ordnance Survey reduced from statute to Lancashire measure,
gives but a total area of 411 acres for Burnage. There was a dole-
field in the township, called Barcicroft or Bassy-croft, that is, the
rushy enclosure about thirty Lancashire acres in extent; it was
known by that name as early as the year 1590. By a deed amongst
the Trafford evidences, undated, but executed in the reign of
Edward III., John De la \Yarre lord of Manchester and Joane his
wife convey to Thomas son of Henry de Trafford one hundred acres
of moor and pasture land in Heaton and Withington, — to wit that
half of the tract called Brownegge lying nearest to Heaton, the
which half remained to the said John and Joane after a certain par-
tition of the whole tract made between them and Richard de
Longeford, — To have and to hold the same on payment of seventy
shillings per annum. And if it should happen that the aforesaid
Thomas die without heirs male then with remainder to Nicholas
son of the said Thomas, and to his brothers Edward and Thomas
in succession, with further remainder to the said John De la Warre
and Joane his wife and their heirs. The deed further states that
the said hundred acres of moor and pasture, together with twenty
acres of other land, were conveyed to the aforesaid Thomas in
exchange for thirty acres of pasture in Barton near Flixton ; and
then proceeds at greater length to describe the land in terms not
now intelligible, two or three words being undecipherable in the
original deed of conveyance.^
1 Hoc script' testatur indentat' q'^ d'mis Joh'nes la Warr d'u's Mamcostr' & d'na
Johanna uxor ejus dederiiut &c. Thome filio Henrici dc Traflbrd quinquies viginti
acras more & pastur' cu p'tin. in Hoton et Wythhigton soil, illam medictatom placee
TOcateBrounegge jacent' p'prius Heton et que medietas remansit eisdem Joh'i & Joh'ne
post quad-" partitionem integre placee p'dict' inter ipsos et Dom. Richm. de Langeford
f'ctam. Hend. & Tenend. &c. redd. ann. sexaginta et decern solid. Et si contingat q"^
p'dcus Thorn, obierit sine hered. masc. corpore, tunc reman. Nich'o filio cjusdem
Thome ; et si contingat &c. reman. Edwardo f'ri p'dct. Nich. ; et si contingat &c.
reman. Thome f'ri p'dct. Edwardi ; rem. dom. Joh'ni et Johan et hcredib^ ipsius.
174 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Tlie earliest Population Returns for Burnage are in the year
1774, at which time the township included within its limits 54
houses tenanted by 55 families or 297 individuals. Of these one
hundred and twenty-six were under the age of 15; forty -three
above 50 ; thirteen above 60 ; thirteen above 70 ; and one exceed-
ing 80 years. In 1801 the township contained 78 houses and 383
inhabitants. In 1811 the inhabitants had increased to 454. In
1831 to 513; houses 93; families 98, of whom 31 were employed
in agriculture, 63 in manufactures, and 40 otherwise. In 1831
there were 5 houses uninhabited and 91 occupied by 101 families,
of whom 39 were engaged in agriculture, 55 in trade and 7 other-
wise; total population 507, showing a decrease during the past
ten years. In 1814 there were 4 empty houses and 100 occupied
by a population of 489, the numbers again exhibiting a further
decrease. In 1851 there were 3 empty houses and 104 occupied;
total population 563.
In 1655, 27 persons were rated to the relief of the poor within
the township, including Francis Mosley, Thomas Fletcher, Widow
Birch, &c. In 1854 the number of ratepayers in the township was
115, and the total amount of rate collected .€162 19s. lid. The
gross annual value of property rated for the relief of the poor was,
in the latter year, £3,553 3s. 9d.
In 1692 the annual value of real property in the township, as
assessed to the land-tax, was £80 15s. 5d. ; in 1815, as assessed
to the county-rate, £1,752; in 1829, £1,971; in 1841, £2,413;
and in 1853, £2,984.
Burnage is in the polling district of Manchester, and in 1854
contained 17 county voters. There was in the township in 1854
no church, chapel, railway, canal, colliery, mill or other manufac-
Et sciaut q'^ p'dci quinquies vigiuti acras more et pastur' & vigiuti acras diinittunt
p'dco Thome in allocac'em et ad balentia triginti acr' pastur' in Barton juxta IHixton
quas idem Dom. .Jolies et Johanna ei . . . . debuit et quas idem Thomas , . . v'sus Thoma
filiu Ade de Hulme p' quadam assisam none disseisme. In cujus &c. sigilla p'dcor'
d'ui Joh's et Johan. uxoris sue quam sigilla p'dcor' Thome, Nich'i, Edward' & Thome
huic indentiir' alternat' apposu'ut hiis testib) [no names appear.] — Trafford Evi-
dences, LancasJiire 3ISS. vol. xxt. p. 88.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. l':^5
tory ; neitber was there any public-house. The number of beer-
houses iu the township was three. In 1844 the lands of the
townsliip were in tlie hands of twenty-niue owners, of whom the
following were the chief: — a. r. p.
Wilbraham Egerton Esq 333 2 28
John Bibby Esq 54 0 17
John Wood Esq 52 0 28
Edmund Wright Esq 47 1 0
William Caistor Esq 45 0 26
Lea Birch Esq 24 0 16
Thomas Brown Cave Esq 19 2 0
Assuming the area of the township to be 635 acres, the lands
were thus divided : — Arable laud, 200 acres ; meadow and pasture
land, 420 acres ; roads 15 acres.
For the reason already assigned — its all but total inculture in
early times — Burnage possesses few features of antiquarian in-
terest, and little to call for remark. It never appears to have been
the place of residence of any family of note. In its ecclesiastical
relations it was tributary to the mother church of Manchester to
the extent of the payment of tithes, though its more immediate de-
pendence was upon Didsbury chapel, towards the repairs of which
it was called upon to contribute as exigency required. In 1658
thirty-four land-owners within the township paid chapel-rate to
Didsbury, amongst whom were Mr. Thomas Birch of Birch, William
Birch of the Lumm, and Robert Didsbury. In 1701 the tithes of
Withington and Burnage (there is no separate return) were leased
by the Warden and Fellows of Manchester to Mr. W. Birch for
the sum of £32 per annum. In 1848 the amount paid to the
Dean and Chapter in lieu of tithes for Burnage alone was £72 10s.
This relationship of Burnage to Didsbury as one of the four
townships originally included within the chapelry limits, was never
called in question until the year 1814, when the Churchwardens of
the chapelry, Messrs. Robert Fielden and Thomas Hudson, were
involved in an expensive and tedious law-suit, extending over five
years, in order to establish the connexion hitherto undisputed. In
176 , A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
that year^ at the Easter vestry, Mr. Thomas Mottram of Burnage
was elected a sidesman for the chapehy. At the same meeting
the Churchwardens Avere requested to take such legal steps as they
might judge expedient and be advised in order to collect leys and
maintain the rights of the church. To effect this the wardens
instituted a suit in the Ecclesiastical Court against ISIottram for
refusing to serve the office of sidesman. The defendant procured
a prohibition from the Court of Queen's Bench to stay the suit in
the Ecclesiastical Court. By this change of venue Mottram be-
came plaintiff and the Churchwardens the defendants. The cause
was tried at the Lancaster assizes in August 1817. The issues
tried were two, — firstly, the claim of Didsbury to chapelry rights,
viz., wardens, sidesmen, church-rates, &c., — and secondly, whether
the township of Burnage were in the said chapelry. A mass of
evidence was produced, and the verdict on both issues given in
favour of the defendants, thus asserting the rights of the chapelry,
and devolving the costs of the suit upon the plaintiff. Mottram,
to evade the payment of costs, suffered imprisonment. The
Churchwardens therefore came upon the chapelry in vestry for re-
imbursement of the defendants' (i.e. their own) costs, amounting
to £1,464 9s. 2d., and Mr. Robert Eielden threatened to file (and
afterwards did file) a bill in chancery for the recovery of the same.
Towards liquidating the claim a vestry meeting was convened,
E. Philips Esq. of Bank Hall, Heaton Norris, in the chair, when
a church-rate of one shilling and threepence in the pound was
assessed throughout the chapelry, — ninepence to be paid by the
landlords and sixpence by the tenants. How far this reimbursed
Mr. Eielden is not known, but up to his death he asserted that he
had a large unliquidated claim against the chapelry.
A schoolroom, the nucleus of a future church, is about to be
erected in Burnage ; meanwhile a room has been lent for school
purposes, which has also been licensed for Divine service. Burnage
has no charity exclusively its own, but shares in the several cha-
rities which extend their operations over the entire chapelry, —
Mosley, Chorlton, Boardman, Bland and Linuey. — See under
Didsbury, pp. 100-106.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 177
TOWNSHIP OF IlEATON NORMS.
The township of Heaton Norris lies six miles south-south-east
of JNIauchester, and is bounded on the north by Lcvenshulme and
Reddish^ the stream called the Blaek-brook separating it from
those townships ; on the south by the river Mersey, which there
forms the division between the counties of Lancaster and Chester ;
on the east by Reddish and Stockport, the river Mersey flowing
between it and the latter town ; and on the west by Burnage and
Didsbury. Heaton Norris bears the same relation to Stockport in
geographical position that Salford bears to Manchester.
The name Heaton is descriptive of one of the distinguishing
peculiarities of its situation; Haij, Hey or Hea implying in the
Anglo-Saxon a separate enclosure within a forest or park
fenced with a rail or hedge ; and thus the Avhole word indicates a
town or hamlet fenced in from the surrounding forest. It takes
the adjunct of Norris from its association with the family of that
name who were its early proprietors, and for the sake of distinction
from other places possessing the like features and known by the
same name, as Heaton in Prestwich parish, &c.
Albert Grelle (the younger), second Baron of Manchester, who
died some time before the 28 Henry II. (1181), gave to William
Norreys or Norris two carucates of land in Heaton, subject to a
rent of ten shillings,^ and from him doubtless the township re-
ceived its name. This grantee was a member of the ancient family
of Norreys seated at Blackrod and Speke, whose progenitor is
supposed by Dr. Ormerod to have been a Norwegian, and to
have settled in this country, commemorating his descent in the
name he adopted, "le Norreys.^'2 William Norreis who by deed
' Abb'tus Gredcle juvenis dedifc Will'o Noreus ij caruc' terre in Heton, p' x sol' ;
heredes ejus tenet ilia t'ram. — Testa cle Nevill.
- Proceedings of the Lancashire and ChesLire Historic Society, vol. ii. p. 138.
A A
178 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
dated 34 Edward I, (1305) conveys to his brother Alexander cer-
tain lands in Dentonj is described in the deed as " de Heaton."
From the inquisition p.m. of Robert Greslet in 1282 it appears
that the manor of Heaton Norrys, a member of JManchester, yielded
an annual rent of £4: 6s. 4^d., and was held of Edmund Earl of
Lancaster by service of doing suit to the Earl of Lancaster.
Heaton Norris^ though itself claiming the style, title and dignity
of a separate manor, was included in the lower bailiwick of the
barony of Manchester ; and its inhabitants were required to con-
tribute towards the support of the lord's bailitf and his four under-
bailiffs.
From a survey of the manor of Manchester, taken in the 15
Edward II. (1322), it appears that in Heaton Norris there are 225
acres of arable land, or six bovates and a half, worth £9 3s. lOjd.;
there are, moreover, 135 acres of heath-land, worth £7 lis. 3:^d,
at different sums per acre, and six bovates and a half of land worth
32s. 7d., at difierent amounts per bovate. There are also in Heaton
twenty-three messuages on lands built upon for divers terms. The
pasture lands are estimated at 136 acres, and are said to be worth
34s., but, it is added, there are in the lord's wood 70 acres pasture
in common for the tenants of Heaton and Withington with their
members, with six weeks' time of pannage which cannot be
reckoned at a value beyond the sufficiency for the commoners.
Heaton Norris, it is declared, has a wood called Heton Wood,
which has oaks and hayes [fenced enclosures], in which the
tenants of Heton who hold in fee by charter have housebote [leave
to take timber out of the lord's wood to repair a tenant's house]
and haybote [leave to take thorns to repair fences] out of the lord's
liberties, by which means many things are totally destroyed and
not renewed, wherefore the yearly value in wood, pannage or other
issues of the wood is not computed, if it were it might in a short
time fail. There is a moor called Heton Moss, which contains 70
acres of turbary, and in which the freehoklers of Heton have
housebote whilst it affords enough; besides which the lord may
sell turbary, as he does at present, to the amount of 6s. 8d, yearly ;
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIUSBURY. 179
but this cannot be enumerated amongst the yearly profits because
it will soon cease to be. At Ileton is a mill turned by the Hore-
millsieh, worth yearly 16s. 8d. And there is a certain Fishery in
the INIerse, to the middle of the river, from Grimesbotham as far
as Ditesbery Moor, worth 6d. And this mill, before the time of
the Lady of Heton, was wont to be turned by the Mersc, and was
then worth 4s. yearly ; but now it is not worth so much from want
of water, and yet at it ought all the tenants of Heton to grind. In
this survey " The Turf-pitts between Heton Norres and Reddish"
are named as a part of the boundary-line enclosing the manor, but
the situation indicated is now unknown.
A passing allusion has been made to the interest of the Norris
family in Heaton, commencing as early as the reign of Henry II.
It continued uninterrupted until the reign of Edward I., beyond
which time nothing is known of their further association with the
township.
In the 1 Henry V. (1413), as appears from the Inquisition p. m.,
Arthur Workesley or Worsley died seised of lands in Workesley
A^ill &e., and also in Heton Norres. The same estates were still
in the family in the reign of Henry A^II. In the 27 Henry VIII,
(1535) Robert Worsley Esq., the immediate ancestor of the
AVorsleys of Booths, and great-grandson of the above-mentioned
Arthur, died in possession of the said lands, and four years after
his death they became the subject of litigation at Lancaster, —
Adam "Worsley being plaintiff in the suit, and Robert Worsley
defending himself against a charge of forcible entry and tortious
possession of lands and messuages in Heytone Norreys.
In this reign the family of Reddish also held estates in the
township. From the Inquisition p. m. of Otho or Otes Reddish in
the 14 Henry VIII. (1522) we learn that he was seised at his death
of Reddish manor and also of lands in Heton Norres. He was
the eldest son and heir of John Reddish and Elizabeth his wife,
daughter of Thurstan Holland of Denton Esq. The descent of
this estate is shown by the several Inquisitions of John Reddish,
his son, in the 1 Ehzabeth (1558) ; his great-grandson John
180 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Reddish in the 11 Elizabeth (15G9); and Alexander Reddish, his
great-great-grandson in the 11 James I. (1613), at whose death
the estates were conveyed by his daughters and coheiresses into
the families of Coke and D'Arcy.
In Queen Mary's reign a disputed rigbt of road from the capital
messuage of Portwood to Stockport Church was tried in the Duchy
Court; certain lands in Heaton Norris were included in the
inquiry, and the action lay between William Duckeufield Esq.,
who is described as a tenant of Brynington, the plaintiff, and
Ralph and Katharine Nycholsone the defendants. Another action,
probably arising out of this, was tried in the same court in the 3
Edward VI. (1549), Richard Nicholson prosecuting Oliver Hidsou
and others in respect of interruption to a right of way to a mes-
suage, lands and tenements in Heyton Norres.
In the 8 Elizabeth (1565) Robert Holme (Hulme) of Hulme
Hall in the adjoining township of Reddish, sued Thomas Holme at
Lancaster for detention of title-deeds of messuages and lands
pledged for security of money lent, the estates under litigation
being situated in Reddish, Heton Norres, and Denton. Five years
later, Robert Holme is himself defendant in an action brought
against him by Thomas Nicholson, the lessee of Robert Chatterton,
in relation to property in Heton Norres township. Inquisitions
p. m. of William Holme, dated 14 Charles I. (1638), and of Wil-
ham Holme, dated 17 Charles I. (1641), show the family to have
been landed proprietors in the township at a later period. In the
10 Elizabeth (1567) Robert Roos, otherwise Rosse, claiming as
heir to Sir James Strangewishe Knight, seised in fee, contests
with Lord Dacre and John Elcock, claimants by conveyance from
Sir James Strangewishe Knight, divers lands, tenements and he-
reditaments in Heyton Norres mauor^ Heyton Strangewishe and
Heyton.
Amongst other land-owners in the township in the reign of
Elizabeth was Sir Gilbert Gerard Knight, of Wymerleigh in the
county of Lancaster, Master of the Rolls, who died in the 35
Elizabeth (1592) seised of lands in Heaton Norris. The year pre-
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 181
ceding his death he was plaintiff at Lancaster in a snit with
Nicholas Langford and others touching his right to certain waste
ground called Heaton Woods^ and fishing in the ponds of the
waste and the woods under Heaton. Sir Gilbert rejjrcsented a
branch of the Gerards of Brin in the same county, and was
appointed in the first year of Queen Mary's reign Reader at Gray's
Inn, of which society he shortly afterwards became treasurer,
being associated in that office with Nicholas Bacon, subsequently
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, In the 1 Elizabeth (1558) he
became Attorney-General, and in this office he remained until the
23rd year of her reign, when he was made Master of the Rolls.
His principal seat was Gerard's Bromley in the county of Stafford,
which Sir Gilbert built. He died, as already stated, in 1592,
leaving issue by Ann his wife, daughter and heiress of William
Radcliffe of Wimersley in the county of Lancaster Esq., two sons,
Thomas and Radcliffe, and four daughters. His son Thomas, in
the 39 Elizabeth (1596), being then a Knight, was constituted
Knight-Marshal of the King's Household for life. In the 1 James
I. (1603) he was advanced to the dignity of a Baron of the realm
by the title of Lord Gerard of Gerard's Bromley ; Ire died in 1618.^
The Gerards were lords of the manor of Heaton Norris in the
reign of Elizabeth. Towards the close of that reign the manor was
conveyed by purchase to Sir Nicholas Mosley Knt., who in his
will devised it to his eldest son Rowland. From the Mosleys it
passed by inheritance to the Blands, who about the middle of the
last century disposed of it by sale to the Egertons of Tatton in the
county of Chester. William Tatton Egerton of Tatton Esq. ]\I.P.
is the present lord of the manor.
The name also of Gregory Lovell Esq. occurs about this time in
the annals of the township as a landed proprietor. He is described
as Cofferer to the Queen's Household, and was in the 36 Elizabeth
(1593) plaintiff at Lancaster in a suit relating to certain lands in
Heaton Norris which he claimed by conveyance from Sir Edmund
Trafford Knt. He was of Merton in the county of Surrey, the
' Dugdale's Baronage, p. 417.
182 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
second son of Sir Francis Lovell and grandson of Sir Gregory
Lovell of Barton Bendish in the county of Norfolk. Sir Robert
Lovellj his eldest son by a second marriage with Dorothy daughter
of Nicholas Green, whose Inquisition }d. m. is dated the 44 Eliza-
beth (1601) was his successor in the Heaton Norris estate. His
widow Dame Jane Lovell afterwards appears as prosecutrix in the
Duchy Court against one Roger Duddell and Alice his wife in
respect of a disputed messuage in Heaton Norres.
In the 20 Elizabeth (1577) Sir William West Knt. Lord De la
Warre, and Sir Edmund Traflford Knt. lords of the manor of Man-
chester, assert their claim against Sir John Ratclifie, Deputy-
Steward of the Hundred and Manor of Salford, to hold courts-leet
and exercise other manorial privileges in Heton Norres and other
places within Manchester town and manor. In the same reign
Sir Edmund Trafford was a suitor in the Duchy Court with refer-
ence to lands, tithes &c. in Trafford, Stretford and Heaton Norris,
the defendants in the action being Thomas Goodere and Katharine
his wife in right of the said Katharine, who is executrix of Ralph
Sorocold. The defendants in this suit were land-owners in Dids-
bury, where they probably resided. Of the families already enu-
merated not one appears to have resided in the township ; nor was
it at any time, as far as can now be gathered, the abode of any
family possessing claim to distinction. In 1844 the lands of
Heaton Norris were in the possession of fifty-three proprietors, of
whom the principal were : — a. r. p.
Wilbraham Egerton Esq 1035 0 0
Francis Philips Esq 197 2 37
Mr. John Goulden 78 115
Mr. Edmund Wright 65 2 22
Estate devised by the late W^illiam Hulme Esq... 62 1 36
Mr. John Thorniley 41 0 1
Mr, Cephas Howard 39 3 24
London and North-W^estern Railway 38 2 20
Mr. John Graves 29 0 6
Mr. Dakin 28 3 18
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 183
Assuming the total area to be 1,840 acres, tlie lands were thus
divided : — Meadow and pasture land, 980 acres ; arable land, 670
acres ; site of buildings, 100 acres ; roads, 50 acres ; railway, 40
acres.
Traces of an ancient British encampment still exist in the town-
ship, towards the north. It is surrounded by a moat, and retains
in part its early name, the " Peel'' or the " Peel moat," from the
Celtic Pill, a small fortress or stronghold.
Heaton Norris includes the several hamlets of Heaton Mersey,
Norris Hill, Bank, Blackbrook, Bower-house, Folds, Top-o'th-
Bank and Underbank. Of these the most important is Heaton
Mersey, situated in the south division of the township on the
. banks of the Mersey, from which it receives its name. Here is
situated ]\rauldeth Hall, the residence of the Bishop of Manches-
ter, and formerly the seat of Mr. Edmund Wright, from whose
it?"
executors it was purchased by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in
1854. It is a modern mansion of stone, and is conjectured to have
taken its name from an earlier designation of the site on which it
184 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
is erected — the Marled Earth — corrupted into Mauldeth. It was
built by Mr. J, C. Dyer, from whom it was purchased by Mr.
Wright the late owner. The grounds are of some extent, mea-
suring ujjwards of a quarter of a mile from north to south, and
nearly a quarter of a mile from east to west, and embracing an
area of 39a. 2r. 9p. The estate is on the borders of the townships
of Buniage and Heaton Norris, but in the latter township, and on
the confines of the two dioceses of Manchester and Chester. It
was conveyed by the representatives of the late Mr. Edmund
Wright to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners by deed, dated
February 7, 1854.
The earliest Population Returns for Heaton Norris are in the
year 1774, at which time the township included within its limits
134 houses, four of which were untenanted ; the number of
families 141 ; individuals 769. Of these, two hundred and sixty-
seven were under the age of 15; one hundred and thirteen above
50 ; fourteen above 60 ; twenty-one above 70 ; and seven above 80.
In 1801 the township contained 422 houses, and 3,768 inha-
bitants.
In 1811 the inhabitants had increased to 5,232.
In 1821 there were 1,050 inhabited houses, 11 empty, and 12 in
course of erection ; families 1,429, whereof 72 were employed in
agriculture, 1,353 in trade and manufactures, and 4 otherwise;
total population 6,958.
In 1831, houses occupied 2,127, 11 building, and 59 empty;
families 2,220, of whom 141 were chiefly engaged in agriculture,
1,713 in trade, and 366 otherwise employed; total population
11,238.
In 1841, houses occupied 2,772, ditto untenanted 587, ditto in
the course of erection 11 ; total population 14,629.
In 1851, houses occupied 3,135, ditto untenanted 190, ditto iu
course of erection 14; total population 15,697.
In 1655 sixty persons in the township were rated to the relief of
the poor ; amongst whom were Anthony Ellcock, clerk, 18s. 6d.,
Edward Hulme and Thomas Williamson for Shaw House. The
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DTDSBURY. 185
total rate collected for the half-year ending November 25 was
iJ22 10s. 8|d. In 1847 the same rates amounted to cfil^QOS
15s. 7d.
In 1692 the annual value of real property in the township, as
assessed to the land-tax, was £281 15s. ; in 1815, as assessed to
the county-rate, £12,006; in 1829, £33,584; in 1841, £45,175;
and in 1853, £47,202.
There Avere in the township in 1834, 23 public-houses.
The area of Heaton Norris, accordin;? to the computation of
Rickman in the Census Returns of 1831, is 2,180 acres; Messrs.
Johnson and Son estimate it at 2,126 acres ; the Tithe Commis-
sioners, as adopted in the Census Returns of 1851, 2,108 acres;
and the Ordnance Survey 2,115a. Ir. 20p.
The township is intersected by the London and North-Western
Railway, which crosses the Mersey by a stupendous viaduct.
In 1826 a new turnpike road, called the Wellington Road, from
Manchester to Buxton, was opened to the public ; commencing at
Heaton Chapel, it is carried on arches over the town of Stockport
from north to south, and was constructed at an expense of
£30,000. The old road, now disused, was formerly known as the
High-street. Amongst the ratepayers in 1655 was John Holt of
Streethouses, the name, doubtless, of some cottages built by the
road side.
The Ashton, Manchester and Oldham Canal terminates at Lan-
cashire Hill, a steep acclivity above the Mersey.
Heaton Norris has two charitable foundations exclusively its
own ; —
1. Hollingpriest's Charity.
John HoUingpriest, by will bearing date August 5, 1785, gave
to his executors the sum of £200 upon trust, to dispose of the
same for the use and benefit of the charity school situate upon the
turnpike road in Heaton Norris in such manner as to the said
executors shall seem best.
Mr. John Lingard was the surviving executor, and upon his
B B
186 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
death his representatives paid the sum of £200 to Messrs. Lingard
and Vaughan, solicitors at Stockport, who lent the same on the
31st of May 1816, to John Holt at 5 per cent interest ; and as a
security for this money six houses in Dale-street Stockport were
mortgaged to John Vaughan Esq. Messrs. Lingard and Vaughan
have regularly accounted for the yearly sum of £10, though they
have not received the interest from the mortgager since May 18.20.
The school to which the above-mentioned donation was made is
situate near St. Thomas's Chapel, and appears to have been erected
upon the waste by subscription about a century ago, and to have
been repaired by the same means. The building consists of two
stories, of which the lower is applied to the purposes of a school-
room, the upper story being divided into apartments, and used as
a residence for the schoolmaster. A small play-ground, containing
about twenty perches, adjoins the school. The master of this
school is appointed by the inhabitants of the township of Heaton
Norris, and he receives £9 per annum from Messrs. Lingard and
Vaughan in respect of Hollingpriest's legacy, £1 being retained
by them for their trouble. The master has upon an average about
ninety scholars, who are instructed upon his own terms in reading,
writing and accounts ; no children being taught gratuitously.^
2. Tithe Barn Charity School.
There are in the township of Heaton Norris certain premises
adjoining an estate called the Tithe Barn House, which appear to
have been appropriated for the support of a school. They consist
of two cottages with gardens, and a small plot of ground in front,
formerly used as a play ground for the scholars. These premises
formerly constituted part of the waste of the manor belonging to
Wilbraham Egerton Esq., and it is reputed that the cottages were
built by a subscription upwards of sixty years ago, and that at the
same time Richard Jepson, George Fletcher, John Chorlton and
Edward Norris were nominated trustees for the school, for the
support of which these premises were intended, but it does not
' Oonimissioners' Report of 1826, vol. xvi. p. 198.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 187
appear that any deed was executed for conveying the legal estate
to those persons. From this period up to the year 1818 it seems
that there were always four persons who acted as trustees in letting
the property or such part thereof as was not occupied by the
master, and in ordering the necessary repairs and in receiving and
paying the rents, for which purpose they met annually on Christ-
mas day, and upon a vacancy appointed the schoolmaster; but
since 1818 no meetings have been held. Thomas Jepson, the
grandson of Richard Jepson above-mentioned, is now the only
survivor of those who were acting as trustees in 1818, and the
vacancies which have occured since that time have not been filled
up. In 1816 Thomas Higson was appointed schoolmaster, and
one of the cottages was given up to him for his residence, but a
certain rent was reserved ; the other cottage was let. As long as
the annual meetings were held, the amount of the clear rents, after
deducting the expenses of repairs, was paid by the acting trustees
to the schoolmaster for his stipend, and on this account he was
required to teach a few children of the township or neighbourhood
without any further charge. Since 1818 the schoolmaster has
continued in the occupation of one of the cottages, with the garden
thereto attached, without accounting for any rent, but for several
years he has not had a single scholar. Applications have therefore
been made to him by some of the principal inhabitants of the
township to give up possession of the premises, but this, up to the
time of our inquiry (February 1826) he had refused to do, upon
the plea that he was willing to teach any children if they were sent
to him. It appeared, however, to us that he was, from ill-health
and indolent habits, totally unfit for the situation of schoolmaster ;
and we stated to him our opinion that he had no right to retain
possession of these premises except upon the terms of keeping
school, which he was incompetent to fulfil, and he engaged to give
them up in the course of a month from that time. The cottage in
the possession of Higson is in a fair state of repair, and is worth
about .£6 per annum. The other cottage is now in the possession
of William Williamson as yearly tenant at a good rent of £5 5s.
188 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
per annum ; it has been lately put into a good state of repair by-
subscription. The rent of this cottage has lately been paid to
Messrs. Lingard and Vaughan, in whose hands there was at the
time of our inquiry a balance of £12 Is. 9d. due to the charity,
arising from the amount of the rents received by them and the
surplus of the subscription above-mentioned, after the payment of
the expense of the repairs. It is intended out of this balance to
defray the expenses of preparing the cottage in the possession of
Higson for the reception of a new schoolmaster as soon as it is
given up. It seems desirable that some steps should be taken
for appointing new trustees for the management of this property ;
and as the inhabitants are anxious that this should be done, and
Wilbraham Egerton Esq. lord of the manor, has expressed his
willingness to convey the school premises to gentlemen of the
neighbourhood, as trustees for a school, we hope that the charity
may soon be placed upon a better system.^
For charities of Sir Edward Mosley Knt., Thomas Chorlton,
Sergeant Boardman and Dame Ann Bland, in all of which the
township participates, vide under Didsbury, pp. 100-106.
In its ecclesiastical relations, Heaton Norris, from the remotest
times, was a part of the district appertaining to the parochial
chapel of Didsbury ; and as associated with that township it was
in a like degree tributary to the parent church of JNIanchester. In
the 37 Henry VIII. (1545) Ralph Trafford and others were parties
in an action against George Collier Warden of Manchester College,
touching a disputed title to tithe-corn in Trafford, Hetton, Heytou
&c. Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Trafford, whose name occurs
in relation to the suit, was late wife of George Leigh, who farmed
the tithe of Heaton. In 1701 the tithes of Heaton Norris were
leased by the Warden and Fellows of the Collegiate Church to
Mr. H. Ilulme for the sum of £50 per annum. In 1848 the rent-
charge in lieu of tithes over the same area, payable to the Dean
and Chapter of Manchester, was £286 10s.
As early as the year 1422 a grant of Hi perches of land in
' Commissiouers' Report of 1826, vol. xvi. pp. 198-199.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 189
Heatou, " lying between lands in the tenure of William Hanson de
Heton on the west, south and east, and the public road there on
the north,'' had been made to the Warden of Manehcster by
Thomas, Lord De la Warre, intended as it might seem for eccle-
siastical purposes. Dr. Hibbert Ware conjectured this and a
similar plot in Gorton to be incidental to chapels in those town-
ships, but it seems quite as probable that they were designed as
sites for tithe-barns. That a tithe-barn once existed in the town-
ship is certain, for in 1607 one Ellen Smyth of Tythe-barn was
buried at Didsbury, as appears from the chapel registers ; and the
obscure origin of certain premises now devoted to charitable uses
in the immediate vicinity of the more modern Tithe-barn House
seems to point to them as affording some clue to the purposes to
which that gift has been applied. However this may be, there is
no evidence of the existence of a chantry or chapel in the township
at any former period.
In 1650 the Parliamentary Commission sitting at ^Manchester
reported that " at Heaton Norres, having no parsonage or vicarage
nor any spiritual benefice, and seven miles distant from the parish
church, there should be a chapel ; and Heaton Norres and Eeddish
joined together in one parish." This, however, was not done, and
in 1658 twenty -two of the residents within the township were
found contributing to a chapel-rate for the repairs of the parochial
chapel of Didsbury. It was not until upwards of a century later
that the suggestion of the Commission was carried into effect. In
1758 a site for a new church was offered by Mr. Thomas Collier of
Heaton Norris, yeoman, in extent 1,712 square yards, being part
of a close called the Yarn Croft. A church was erected thereon
by voluntary subscription of several pious and well-disposed
persons, which was consecrated July 29, 1765, by the name of St.
Thomas's in Heaton Norris. It is a structure of no architectural
pretensions, of brick, stuccoed to represent stone, and covered with
substantial grey slates. Its original dimensions externally were,
length 51 feet, breadth 39 feet, and it was calculated to contain
300 persons. In 1839 it was enlarged ; by which means 33-4 addi-
190 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
tional sittings were obtained, and in consequence of a grant from
the Incorporated Society, 250 of that number were declared to be
free and unappropriated for ever. Galleries have also been erected
in the transepts, whereby 160 sittings have been gained. As it
now appears, the chapel consists of a nave comparatively spacious,
with north and south transepts, and a chancel somewhat circum-
scribed. The west- end of the chapel is surmounted by an octagonal
bell- turret. Before its enlargement access to the chapel was gained
through a porch at the west end ; there are nov*^ two entrances to
the nave, and one to the gallery, the transept galleries being
entered from within the chapel. The organ-loft is situated over
the chancel, and is lighted by two small windows in the roof; it is
entered from without. In March 1850, St. Thomas's Heaton
Norris was returned as a district chapelry under the 59 George
III. cap. 134; number of sittings ()33, of which 382 were appro-
priated and the remainder free. It is now a separate rectory,
under the provisions of the Manchester Rectory Division Act.
The first incumbent of St. Thomas's was the Rev. William
Beresford, who was nominated to the chapel at its consecration in
1765. He was succeeded by the Rev. James Cooke, who officiated
there in 1774, and later in 1786. The next incumbent in succes-
sion was the Rev. James Taylor, who died there in 1802. He was
followed by the Rev. James Gatliff, who was nominated by the
Warden and Fellows of Manchester October 18, 1802, being at
the time stipendiary curate of Gorton chapel. In 1808, on the
death of the Rev. John Darbey, Incumbent of Gorton, Mr. Gatliff
was appointed to succeed him, his nomination bearing date October
29, 1808. In 1817 he edited Wogan's Essay on the Proper
Lessons of the Church of England ; in doing this he incurred a
heavy pecuniary responsibility, from which he was unable to free
himself, and was imprisoned at the suit of his publisher. During
his incarceration a dispute arose between himself and the Bishop
of Chester as to the sequestration of his living and the appointment
of a curate in his absence, and on his liberation he published a
statement of his case in a pamphlet wherein he very intemperately
rAROCIIIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 191
assails his diocesan and also his brother the Rev. John GatlifF,
Fellow of the Collegiate Church, for what he considered their
unfeeliuti- conduct towards hira. In 1826 he returned to Gorton
where he continued to reside until his death in 1831. lie was
interred within the chancel of Gorton chapel. On the resignation
of St. Thomas's by Mr. Gatliff in 1808, the llev. Charles Panton
Middleton M.A, of Brazenose College Oxford, was nominated to
the vacant chapel, which he held together with Hollinwood chapel
in Prestwich parish, but afterwards resigned the latter. He was
chaplain to the Earl of Tyrconnel, and received his education at
the Manchester Grammar School. He died in 1844, and was suc-
ceeded by the Rev. Edward Dudley Jackson B.C.L., the present
incumbent.
The endowment of the chapel consists of money contributed for
that purpose, — £800 private benefactions, £400 from the go-
vernors of Queen Ann^s Bounty, and £1,400 parliamentary grant;
which several sums were expended in the purchase of three small
farms, one in Cheshire and two in Yorkshire, producing in 1835
an annual income of £116. The farms have been recently sold,
and the proceeds of the sale, amounting to £2,700, invested in the
funds for the benefit of the living. A parsonage-house has also of
late been erected in further augmentation of the endowment. It
was built in 1847 on a plot of land purchased from Wilbraham
Egerton Esq. of Tatton Park, at the nominal price of a farthing a
yard. The cost of its erection was upwards of £1,200, which was
defrayed by a grant from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, aided
by a donation of £200 from the present incumbent, and the con-
tributions of the parishioners.
There is an old parochial day-school near the chapel, erected
upwards of a hundred years ago by public subscription, to which
reference has already been made under the head " Hollingpriest's
Charity.'' A Sunday-school in connection with St. Thomas's is
held in this room, but the building does not belong to the chapel.
Nearly a century elapsed before any further effort was made to
extend church accommodation in the township. Since the erection
192 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
of St. Thomas's the population of Heaton Norris had increased
upwards of twenty fold, and the need of additional churches was
felt to be urgent. On the 29th of July 1844, the foundation stone
of a new structure, to be called Christ Church, was laid by Wil-
braham Egerton Esq. of Tatton, lord of the manor of Heaton
Norris, who gave the site and also a further donation of .£'1,000,
The site selected is on the south-east side of the township near to
the railway station. The chief contributors to the building-fund
were the Manchester and Eccles Church Building Society £2,000 ;
the Diocesan Church Building Society .€500; the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners £500 ; the Incorporated Society £400 ; and the
rest by private subscription. The communion-plate was pre-
sented by Mrs, Egerton ; the organ by Mr. John Marsland ; the
desk by Mr. R. C. Sharpe; and a further donation of £200
towards a spire was promised by Wilbraham Egerton Esq, The
entire cost of its erection was £6,929, and the accommodation
provided is 1,217 sittings, of which number 625 are free. It was
consecrated October 21, 1846, It consists of a nave, chancel, side
aisles and transepts, with a tower at the west end. Its proportions
are as follows : — Nave 86 feet 10 inches in length, 22 feet 6 inches
in breadth, and 44 feet 9 inches in height; chancel, 12 feet by 20
feet 6 inches; side aisles, 77 feet in length, 12 feet 8 inches in
breadth, and 27 feet 3 in height; transepts, 14 feet 4 inches in
length, 23 feet 7 inches in breadth, and 27 feet 3 inches in height ;
tower, 11 feet 4 inches square, and 79 feet 8 inches high. The
clerestory rises 11 feet 6 inches from the roof of the aisles. The
height of the church to the apex of the roof is 55 feet 9 inches.
Christ Church was returned in 1846 as a district chapelry erected
under the provisions of act 1 and 2 William IV. cap. 38 ; the
animal endowment arising from money invested, exclusive of pew-
rents, was £30, The first and present incumbent is the Rev.
Charles Babington Jeaffreson M.A., late curate of AYilmslow.
The district assigned to the church is bounded on the north by
the boundary of the borough of Manchester ; on the south by the
river Mersey (on the west of the Wellington Road), and a foot-
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 193
path rimuing parallel with the church iuto the Manchester old
road ; on the east by the Manchester old road ; and on the west
by a portion of the boundary of the borough and the river Mersey.
A site for schools (valued at d£'800) was also given by Mr. Egerton.
The cost of their erection was about j6900.
In the same year (184^) the erection of another church in the
township, at Heaton INIersey, was decided on^ and the foundation
stone laid by Mr. John INIarsland, but circumstances delayed the
progress of the work, and it did not receive consecration until
August 26, 1850. It is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The
style of architecture adopted is the early English, and the cost of
its erection was £4,252 4s. 7d.j towards which the jNIanchester and
Eccles Church Building Society contributed i^GOO ; the Chester
Diocesan Society £150; the Incorporated Society £200; the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners £150; and the remainder by private
subscription. It consists of a nave 67 feet by 43 feet 6 inches,
and a chancel 22 feet by 18 feet 9 inches. The tower, which is at
the west end, is in height 74 feet, and is surmounted by a spire 51
feet 6 inches high. There is a porch at the south entrance to the
church 10 feet by 8 feet 10 inches. The height of the church
from the floor to the apex of the roof is 52 feet 6 inches. The
site, in extent 3,600 yards, was given by Mr. John Goulden. The
church contains 536 sittings, of which 268 are free. The first and
present incumbent is the Rev. William Munday Wilson. No
schools in connection with the church have as yet been built. A
site for a parsonage-house of equal extent with that of the church
was also given by Mr. Goulden, and a parsonage-house has been
erected thereon.
The Dissenters have five places of worship in the township.
Hanover chapel (Independent) was erected in 1821, and is a
plain and substantial structure of brick, stuccoed, having a tower
ornamented with four pinnacles. The site was purchased at a cost
of £800, and the sum of £5,000 was expended on the chapel itself,
of which amount £2,000 was contributed by a family named
Howard. It contains 800 sittings appropriated, and 200 free
c c
194 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
sittings for the poor. The east window is filled with stained
glass^ in which are representations of Faith, Hope and Charity.
In 1855 schools were erected in connection with this chapel, and
also a large lecture-room calculated to hold seven hundred people,
at a cost of ^62,000. An organ has been added during the present
year, for which £500 has been paid.
WyclifFe chapel (Independent) is a neat Gothic structure of
stone, erected in the year 1849-50. It will accommodate 530
adults and 200 children. The principal promoters of its erection
were John Hampson Esq., who contributed £700 ; James Kershaw
Esq. M.P. £450; Joseph Heaword Esq. £300 ; Sir Elkanah Armi-
tage Knt. £50 ; James Carlton Esq. £50 ; and William Woodward
Esq. £50. The site is held subject to the payment of an annual
chief rent. Sunday and day schools are attached.
Tiviot Dale chapel (Wesley an) was erected in 1824, at a cost of
£14,000. It is of brick, fronted with white free-stone. The style
of architecture is Grecian. It is approached by a lofty portico,
supported by massive pillars of the Ionic order. It is of a size
sufficient for the accommodation of 2,500 worshippers.
The two remaining chapels in the township are those of the
Particular Baptists in Heaton Lane and of the Independents at
Heaton Mersey.
Towards the close of the last century a school was founded at
Heaton Mersey by Mr. Eobert Parker, an extensive calico printer
in the township. Primarily designed for the exclusive purposes of
education, Mr. Parker aftewards desired that a license being
obtained it should also serve as a church until a more suitable
structure could be obtained; and for this purpose he applied to
the Warden and Fellows of Manchester to procure from the bishop
the necessary sanction; but this was refused, the bishop objecting
to the celebration of Divine Service in any other than a conse-
crated building. Shortly afterwards a communication reached him
from the Rev. John Wesley, requesting the use of the room for
the ministrations of members of the Wesleyan body, to which he
assented, in the belief that such ministrations could not but be
PAROCHIAL CIIAPKI. OF DIDSBURY. 195
beneficial in the midst of a popalatiou for whom no adequate
church accommodation had been provided. The school thus
passed into the hands of dissenters, and has since ranked as one
of the auxiliaries to the great school at Stockport.
Extract from the will of Robert Parker, late of lieaton Norris
in the county of Lancaster, calico printer, deceased, bearing date
July 17, 1815: —
" I give and bequeath to the Manchester Infirmary and Lunatic
Hospital the sum of £1,000, to be laid out in land for the benefit
of the same for ever. 1 give and bequeath to the Manchester
Lying-in Hospital the sum of £500, to he laid out in land or
invested in the three per cent consols for the benefit of the same
for ever. I give and bequeath to the Stockport Sunday-school
situated in Duke-street the sum of £500, to be laid out in land or
invested in the three per cent consols for the benefit of the same
for ever. I give and bequeath to the British and Foreign Bible
Society the sum of £500. I give and bequeath to the school at
Stockport under the Established Church on Dr. BelFs plan the
sum of £200. I give and bequeath to the Stockport Dispensary
the sum of £200. I give and bequeath to the Free School at
Hesketh in the county of Cumberland the sum of £100 ; the three
last-mentioned sums for charitable purposes to be paid to the trea-
surers of the said several charities for the time being. I also give
and bequeath the sum of £500, to be invested in the three per
cent consols, the dividends and interest thereof to be paid to the
Churchwardens of Didsbury, to be by them applied under the
direction and with the assistance of the proprietors of the works at
Heaton aforesaid to the support and repairs of the Sunday-school
at Heaton, and towards the clothing of the children of the said
school."
The will was proved at Chester August 22, 1815, and the effects
of the testator sworn under £175,000.
There is another branch of the Stockport school in this town-
ship situated at Lancashire Hill, at which latter place the New
Connexion Wesley ans also have a Sunday school.
196 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Refereuce has been made to the parent Sunday school at
Stockportj which, from its magnitude, is worthy of a more special
notice. It was founded in the year 1784 by a few religiously-
active and benevolent men of different denominations, who
lamented the prevalent ignorance of the town, and who overlooked
the interest of party in the earnestness and comprehensiveness of
their desire to promote the knowledge and happiness of their
fellow-men. The schools were held at first in cottages, then an
empty factory was taken, and step by step the cause advanced,
until in 1805 the present structure of brick was erected. In 1850,
5,188 children were receiving education from upwards of 450
voluntary teachers. Of these 5,188 scholars, 3,868 were being
taught at the Stockport school, 209 at Brinksway, 319 at lieaton
Mersey, 491 at Lancashire Hill, and 301 in the Heaviley branch
school, these latter schools being auxiliaries to the principal school
at Stockport. The expenses of conducting these schools are
defrayed by private subscription, and an annual collection, which
on one occasion amounted to -€500. Upwards of ^620,000 has
been spent in school buildings since the commencement. Its
affairs are managed by trustees chosen from all religious denomi-
nations. There are in the Stockport school no fewer than eighty-
three rooms, independent of the magnificent lecture-room which
occupies the third story. It is furnished with a fine organ, the
gift of Mr. Robert Parker in 1811.
PAROCHIAL CUAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 197
TOWNSHIP OF REDDISH.
This township lies four miles and a half south-east from Man-
chester, and is situated on the confines of that extensive parish as
also of the county itself, being separated from Cheshire by the
river Tame shortly before its confluence with the Mersey. It is
bounded on the north by Denton and Gorton ; on tho south and
east by the river Tame, which there separates the counties of
Chester and Lancaster ; and on the west by Gorton, Levenshulme
and Heaton Norris. There is a hamlet of that name in Lymm,
eight miles and a half north-west from Nether Knutsford ; a
" Great Reddish Wood'' near Bramhall in Cheshire ; a township
of " Redditch" on the borders of Warwickshire, and also a hamlet
of " Reddich" in the parish of Tardebigg, Worcestershire. The
orthography of the word has varied considerably at difl'erent
periods; we find it written Radish, Radich, Redich, Rediche,
Redych, Redwyche, Redish, Reddish, Reddishe, &c. The popular
pronunciation is Redditch, and its name is said to have originated
in an alleged discoloration of the waters of the Nicker Ditch, a
local stream, from admixture with the blood of the Danes after
an engagement with the Saxon inhabitants of Manchester about
the year 869.^
The township contains the three hamlets of Reddish Green,
Sandfold and Whitehill. Reddish Green is about five miles south-
east of Manchester. It consists of two " Greens," the smaller one
lying nearer to the Stockport road is called emphatically Little
Reddish Green, to distinguish it from the other, which was
situated more in the heart of the township. Sandfold, so desig-
nated in 1679, is about four miles and a half south-east from
Manchester. This small hamlet is popularly known as " tV soot-
hole," into which it has been corrupted from Sandhole, — a pit or
quarry whence sand has been obtained for many generations. The
Sandfold farm in the middle of the seventeenth century was the
' Foundations of MancJiesler, vol. i. p. 11.
198 A HLSTOllY OF THE ANCIENT
residence of a family named Oldham, well known in the local
annals of dissent. It was here, at John Oldham's house, that a
sermon was preached (a MS. copy of it is still preserved) by Mr.
Robert Chadderton in 1681 from the text Romans viii. 9. Here, too,
was born and died Thomas Oldham, one of the chief promoters of
the erection of the Presbyterian Chapel at Gorton in 1705, and
who contributed also to its endowment. He died in 1710, and
was interred beneath an altar tomb within the cottage adjoining
the chapel he had assisted to found.'
Whitehill lies five miles and half south-east from Manchester,
and about three quarters of a mile north of Stockport. It is so
named from a house bearing this designation built upwards of
thirty years ago by George Shawcross, a bleacher.
The Nicker Ditch, which flows between Reddish and Gorton,
connects Reddish with the Saxon era. On the south side of the
ditch, within the township, are several undulations known as
the "Nicker Knolls." These have been supposed by all who
accept tlie tradition of a Saxon and Danish conflict, to be ancient
barrows or tombs, in which were deposited the bodies of the slain.
A little south-south-west of these is a slightly elevated plot of
land, in extent netirly a statute acre, and known as "Castle Mea-
dow." It is nearly circular in form, level, and in point of elevation
higher than the adjacent laud. Tradition points to it as the site
of a fortification, and its date is immediately referred to the
occurrences just spoken of. Two of the fields adjoining the Nicker
Ditch and appertaining to the Sandfold estate of the Oldhams,
have been since the year 1745 designated " Blue Caps," in memory
of the unwelcome intrusion when " all the blue bonnets came over
the border."
At a very early period we find a record existing of a corn-mill in
the township. By a deed undated but referable to the close of the
thirteenth century, John de Hyde and Ellen his wife remise to
Alexander, son of Robert de Hyde, all their right in the lands of
Hethinglegh within the township of Brinnington, which lands had
been given to them by Hamnet de Dokinfield, together with a
' Higson's Gorton Kisiorical Recorder, p. 81.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 199
third part of Reddish jSIill.' This was doubtless a sokc-mill erected
by the lord for the use of his tenants, who, iu recompense of the
outlay, pledged themselves to grind their corn there. Its site is
still pointed out. Amongst the tenants of the Earl of Lancaster
in the 10 Edward II. (131G) mention is made "de firma ter WiH
fil Rogeri in Radish 6s." In the Extent and Survey of the manor
of Manchester taken in the 15 Edward II. (1322) the line is
described as "following the middle of the said river (Tame)
between the county of Chester and Ashton as far as :Moreclou at
Redish ; and so following Moreclou as far as Saltersgate ; and from
thence following the ditch of Redish as far as into ISIuchelditch ;
and following that as far as le Pegfenengate [or Pcytonyngate] ;
and following that as far as le Turf-pitts between Heton Norres
and Redish ; and from thence following le :Merebroke as far as the
conjunction of the waters of Tam and Mersey," &c. Five centuries
have done much to obliterate features at one time sufficiently dis-
tinct to serve as land-marks. Moor Clough, it has been con-
jectured, is what is now called Reddishwood, a little south of
Reddish Hall, where there is a sort of ditch, part of the line of a
rejected canal. Muchel or Muckle (that is " the great") Ditch is
supposed on the same authority to be identical with the Black
Brook, whilst Pegfenengate or Peytonyngate and the Turf Pits,
two other points through which the boundary-line passes, are
wholly untVaced. These boundaries seem to exclude Reddish from
the manor of Manchester, for otherwise it is probable that the
course of the river would have been followed.
In the 15 Edward III. (1341) a tax was levied under the
authority of the crown in every parish throughout the land towards
defraying the expenses incurred by the king in the prosecution of
his late wars with Scotland and France. In agricultural districts
the tax was to consist of the ninth lamb, the ninth fleece, and
1 OibJ. &c. Joli'es de Hyda et Elena iix' ejus Salt'm &c. Nos remis &c. Alex' fil'
D'ni Robti de Hyda tot' jus in t'ra Hetliingleg in vil' de Brynintun q'm t'ram
h'uimus ex dono Hamnet de Dokinfeild una cu' 3'" p'te molend' de Eedish, &c. Test.
D'uo Rob. de Stockp'te. Jo' de Byrim ; Olivero de Langford ; Henr' de Trafford
Matheo de Birches, &c. — Earl. MSS. 2,112 fo. 117.
200 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
the ninth sheaf of corn, or their equivalent in money ; in towns
or boroughs a ninth part of the value of the goods and chattels of
the inhabitants. It was assessed by a commission appointed for
the purpose, who were empowered to take statements on oath.
The name Redyche appears under the head of Manchester parish,
and the payment decreed for that township was lijs. iiijd.^
The superficial area of the township, as computed by Rickman
in the Population Returns of 1831, was 1,460 acres; Messrs,
Johnson and Son's Survey estimates it at 1,573 acres; and the
Ordnance Survey at 1,541a. 2r. Ip.
The earliest Population Returns for Reddish are in the year
1774, at which period it contained but 54 houses, tenanted by 57
families, representing a population of 302 souls ; of these 111 were
under the age of fifteen, 51 above fifty, 10 above sixty, 5 above
seventy, and 2 exceeding ninety. In 1801 the population num-
bered 456; in 1811, 532; in 1821, 574; in 1831, 860; in 1841,
1,188; in 1851, 1,218.
In 1655 there were 25 ratepayers in the township, two of whom
paid three-sevenths of the entire rate, viz. Sir Edward Cooke
[Coke] £5 15s. and Mr. Jo. Hulme £2 4s. The aggregate poor's
rate collected in the six months ending November 25, 1655, was
£18 15s. 6|d, In 1847 the same rates amounted to £266 6s.
In 1692 the annual value of real property in the township as
assessed to the land tax was d?343; in 1815, as asse^ed to the
county-rate, £2,555; in 1829, to the same, £5,650; in 1841,
£6,503; and in 1853, £8,354.
Reddish has neither post-office, schoolmaster, lawyer, doctor,
nor pawnshop.
The proprietors of the Manchester and Oldham Canal, by an act
passed in 1793, obtained powers to form a length from their cut at
Clayton demesne to Heaton Norris, a distance of about six miles.
It is parallel with the high- way from Gorton toll-bar, and is on the
level throughout; it was opened in 1797. The quantity of land
required in Reddish was 13a. 3r. 24p. Powers were also obtained
to form a branch to the Denton Collieries, a distance of about
1 Nonarum Inqxiisitioues.
PAKOCIIIAL CtlAPEF. OF DIDSBURY. 201
three miles. Bridges were built for the purpose, but the project
was subsequently abandoned. The branch railway from Stockport
to Guide Bridge passes through Reddish, appropriating 18a. Or. 13p.
of land, and extending rather more than a mile and three quarters.
There is no station in the township.
The inhabitants are almost entirely occupied in agriculture ;
crofting, weaving (by hand-loom), and the manufacture of hats
once slightly prevailed, but not to any extent, and consequently
the population has always been small as compared with other
townships. In 1851 it was only 1.116 person to the statute acre.
The total number of land-owners in Reddish in the year 1844
was 27, of whom the principal were : —
Robert Hyde Greg and John Greg Esqrs. a. r. p.
(Reddish Hall, &c.) 535 3 18
Trustees of the late William Hulme Esq.
(Hulme Hall, &c.) 225 2 5
John Hyde Esq 210 0 33
The late Rev. William Fox's heirs (Wood
Hall, &c.) QQ 2 33
The Right Honourable the Earl of Wilton... 65 3 32
John Duncuft Esq 62 3 6
Michael Newton Esq 52 114
Ernest Hannibal Becker Esq 41 0 14
Joseph Marsland Esq 37 1 13
London and North Western Railway 18 0 13
Ashton Canal 13 3 24
Assuming the area of the township to be 1,504 acres, it was
thus divided: — Arable land, 90 acres; Meadow and Pasture,
1,320 acres ; Wood and Water, 50 acres ; Buildings and Streets,
44 acres.
In its ecclesiastical relations Reddish, as a part of the extensive
parish of Manchester, was from the earliest times tributary to the
mother church. In 1422, the Collegiate Church of Manchester
was endowed with the tithe of corn growing and issuing out of
(amongst other townships) Reddish ; and in the Charters granted
D D
202 A HISTORY OF THE A^XTENT
to that Church by Mary, Elizabeth and Charles I., Reddish is
included in an enumeration of the several townships over which
the obligation to pay tithe to that church was made to extend. In
1701 the tithes of Reddish were farmed by Jo. Ardern for £18 per
annum. In 1848 the annual rent-charge in lieu of tithes over the
same district, payable to the Dean and Chapter of Manchester, was
£1S4<. Reddish still elects a sidesman to the Parish Church. It
may be doubted whether this township was at any time included
within the limits of the parochial chapelry of Didsbury; such
seems scarcely probable. It is included here as united in after
years with Heaton Norris, an ofF-shoot of Didsbury, and together
with Levenshulme and Heaton Norris, constituted a separate
ecclesiastical district. In 1650 the Parliamentary Commission
sitting at Manchester under the authority of the Great Seal of
England, reported that " Reddish hath no Church or Chapel, and
the inhabitants resort to Stopforth, Denton and Gorton ; it is fit
to have a Church or Chapel erected betwixt it and Heaton Norres."
And in another part of their report they recommend the union of
the two townships of Heaton Norris and Reddish, so as to form a
separate and distinct parish. This suggestion was not acted upon
for upwards of a century, until in 1765, when St. Thomas's, Heaton
Norris, was consecrated, a district was assigned to it which included
Reddish. Reddish seems to have been overlooked in by-gone
years by all religious denominations, being up to the present time
destitute of church, chapel or school. Towards the close of the
year 1855, the Rev. E. D. Jackson, Incumbent of the district,
commenced a school at Lancashire Hill, situated locally in Heaton
Norris township, but intended for the benefit of Reddish, and
having obtained a license, Divine Service is celebrated there every
Sunday evening.
Reddish has no charity exclusively its own, neither does it
participate in any of the charities which extend their operations
over other neighbouring townships.
Reddish township was the seat of a family bearing that name at
a very early period, — a period too remote to be now determined,
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 203
owing to the absence of dates in the earlier deeds relating to their
settlement there.
In an undated deed, we find Richard, son of Robert de Reddish,
conveying to Jordan, his son, all that his share of llydeeroft [or
Ryeeroft] ; and by a similar deed undated, Robert, son of Matthew
de Reddish, conveys to Richard, his son, lands beginning "ad
aquam de Thame," thence to Chiselbotham and the Alderndnus
[? Aldwinshaw] described as "inter Reddish et Denton/' both
which conveyances are conjectured to have been made not later
than the middle of the thirteenth century.
In the 56 Henry III. (1272) Matthew de Reddish was declared
to be seised of one-half of the manor of Reddish ; in which same
vear he appears as plaintiff in an action against Robert de Reddish,
the matter in dispute being the moiety of the said manor. Towards
the close of the reign of Henry III., or the commencement of that
of Edward I., Roger, son of WilHam [de Reddish] is found pos-
sessed of one carucate of laud in Reddish, which he held in
thanage by the payment of six shillings. It is further declared
that INIatthew de Reddish holds that land from the said Roger by
the same service. ^ The antiquity of the family may be inferred,
and their long association with the township, from the nature of
the tenure by which they held their lands, thanage being a tenure
of Saxon origin. By deed dated 16 Richard II. (1392) Richard de
Hide conveys to Richard de Reddish one parcel of land in Denton -^
and in 1415 the name of Robert de Redyche occurs in a list of
the retainers of Sir Nicholas Longford Knt., where he is named
as attending Sir Nicholas at the battle of Agincourt.3
Otho or Otes Reddish of Reddish, whose Inquisition p.m. is
dated 14 Henry VIII. (1522-3), was the eldest son of John de
Reddish by Elizabeth, daughter of Thurstan Holland of Denton
Esq. He married Lucy, daughter of John Dukinfield of Portwood
Esq., and had issue a son, John Reddish, by whom he was
succeeded.
1 Eog' fil' Willi tenet j earuc' in Eedich' in thanag' p' vj'. INIatli' de Eadicli' ten't
illii terra de ip'o Rogo' p' idem serTiciu. — Testa de Nevill.
- Harl. MSS. 2,112 fo. 119. => Harl. MS. 782.
204 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
John Reddish Esq. was forty-six years of age on succeeding to
the estates of the family. He died in the 1 Elizabeth (1558), as
appears from an Inquisition p. m. of that date, seised of the manor
of Reddish, and also of lands in Over Heaton, Heaton super
Eaughfield, Heaton Norris, Manchester, Aldevv^ynghowe in Ashton,
and Crumpsall. His wife was Clemence, daughter of Robert
Worsley of Boothes Esq.
Will of John Reddish of Reddish Esq. : —
In the name of God amen. The seventh daye of January in y^
yeare of o^' lord God a thousand fyve hundreth fiftie and seven, —
and also in y^ fourthe and fyfte yeare of y® reigne of o^ sov^aygne
lord and ladie Phillipe and Marie by y® grace of God Kynge and
Queue of England, Spaine, flPrance, both Cicylles, Jerusalem, and
Ireland, Defenders of y^ faythe, Archedukes of Austeria, Dukes of
Burgandie, jNIelen and Braband, Conti^s of Haspurge, fflanders and
Tirall ; — I John Rediche of Rediche w^in y^ contie of Lancasf
Esquire bej^'ng whole in bodie, and of good and p^fecte mynd and
raemorj^e, thankes unto God, do ordene, make and declare this
p'sente testamet indented herein contened my last will in man''
and forme followinge ; y* is to saye fi&rst I geve and bequeth my
soule unto Almyghtie God my Maker and Redemer, and my bodie
and bones to Christian buriall where as y® bones of myne ancestors
do lie. Also I will y* my funerals shalbe made and deducted out
of my whole goodes. Also I geve and bequeth to John Rediche,
sorie of Otes Rediche my sorie decesed, and now beyng heire
apparant unto me y^ foresayd John Redich, all and all mano^" my
Waynes, cartes, plowes, harrowes and irons belonging to y® same,
w* all teames, yokes, axes, awgars, spades, suvels, mattockes and
all other instrumet belonging to husbandrie. Also I geve and
bequeth to the forsayd John Redishe all y® rest, reversion and
remender of all my whole goodes and cattels movable and unmo-
vable belonginge unto me y^ sayd John Redishe whatsoev^ y« be
and where soev'' y° shalbe founde, as well within my house at
Redisli aforesayd and w^oute as elswhere. Also I will y* the fore-
sayd John Rediche in cosideraciou of the forsayd goodes, cattels
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 205
w^^ I have gcven and l)equcthcd unto hyra by tliis my last will
and testamet shall paye and deliv or cause to be payed and
deliv'ed unto Ane Rcdishe, doughf^ of me y^' foresayd John
Rediche w*in thre yeres nexte and imediatelie after my decease, at
such dayes of paymet as he and she can agree upon for y" same,
the some of fortie poundes of good usuall money of England W^i^
sayd some y« sayd Ane upon hir owne mere mynd and cosent is
cotented to take and receve in full recopence, satisffacion, comuta-
cion and paymet of all suche childes p'te of goodes, cattels and
dettes as mygte, shuld or oughet to have byne due to y^ sayd Ane
by reson of y^ deathe of me y« sayd John Redishe. Also I will
that the said John Rediche shall paye and deliv'' or cause to be
payed and deliv'ed unto Elizabeth Redishe, Margaret Redich and
Isabel Redishe his sisters, to ev'y of them y^ soine of xx^i^ markes
of good and lawfull money of England at such tyme as y^ and ev'y
of them shall co.iie unto honest p'fermet by mariage or oth'' wise ;
and if it fortune any of them y® forsayed Elizabeth Redich,
Margaret and Isabell Redich to dep'te this life before they do
come unto mariage or oth^ p'fermet as is aforesayd I will y^ then
such some and sornes of money as should have byne payed and
deliv'ed unto hir so dep'tinge shall remene and be payable unto
hir oth^ sisters then beyng in playne life. Also I will y* y^ sayd
John Rediche shall paye and deliv^ or cause to be payed and
deliv'ed unto Robert Redich my sone imediatly aff my decease
ye some of xx*' markes of good usuall money of England vf"^ he y«
sayd Robarte is cotented to take and receve in full recopence,
satisffacon, comutacion and paymet of all suche childes p'te of
goodes, cattels and dettes as myghte, shuld or oughte to have been
due unto hym by reson of the death of me y"^ forsayd John Rediche
his fath"^. And also I will y* if myne executo'"^ or any of them at
any tyme or tymes hereaff shalbe putt to any trouble or vexacion
by sute of lawe or oth"^ wise, of for and coc'nyng ther ex'cucion of
this my last will and testamet y* then they and ev'y of them shall
have yr ehargis borne from tyme to tyme of my hole goodes not
p'tieulerly bequethed ; and further more I will y* if any clause or
article cotened in this my last will and testamet be contrary and
206 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
repugnante to any law or statute of this realme of Englaude, y*
then y« same shalbe reformed accordinge to y^ true meanynge of
this my sayd last will. And to y*^ entente y* this my last will and
testamet may be well and truly accomplished in all causes accord-
ing to y^ tenor^ forme, effecte and trew menynge of ye same
I co'sttutCj ordene, make and appoynte the forsayde John
Rediche, Robarte Rediche, Thomas Rediche my bastard broth^,
Wilim Nicholson and Thorns Nicholson my full and lawfuU
execto''®, and my worshipfuU cosins Edward Holland of Denton,
and Alexander Barlow of Barlow Esquires ov'seers of y® same. —
In witnes whereof I have set my scale and signed y® same at* my
hands, these beyng witnes, OteweJl Rediche, Willm Nicolsonn
junior, John Bestwicke, w*^^> others, that is to saye S'" James Broke
chapleyne and Geffrey Holme.
Otes Reddish, the eldest son of the testator, died during his
father's life-time, having married Alice, daughter of Ralph Prest-
wich of Hidme Esq., and by her he left issue, besides other child-
ren, John, who succeeded his grandfather, and George, who settled
at Clifton in the parish of Eccles. Alice Reddis^i survived her
husband many years. Her will is dated March 17, 1575-6 (proved
at Chester March 29, 1576). She describes herself as of Heaton
faulghefeld, widow, " latte wyffe of Ottes Rediche of Rediche Esq.
deced.'^ She desires to be buried in Manchester Church in the
syde eyell near unto her late husband. After her debts &c. paid
she wills that her goods &c. be equally divided amongst George,
Thomas, and Isabel Redich, her three children, her executors.
She appoints as supervisors of her will her brother Edmund Prest-
wich of Holme Esq., her cousin Alexander Barlow of Barlow Esq.,
and her brother-in-law Edmund Assheton of Chadderton Esq.
"Witnesses, Rauffe Hogden, Edmund Hylton, Thomas Bolton, with
others. Debts owing by the testatrix, — Isabel Redich, her
daughter xxxij^^ ; Thomas Redich her son vij^i ; Robert Haworthe
vijii xiijs iiij'^. Thomas and Isabel renounce the executorship.
George Reddish, third son of Otes Reddish Esq., married Do-
rothy, daughter of Sir Urian Brereton of Honford in the county of
Chester, and from him branched Reddish of Clifton. He makes
rAROCIIIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 207
his will December 16, 1587 (proved at Chester October 29, 1588).
He commends his soul to God and his body to the earth, and his
worldly goods to be disposed of as follows : — First he wills that
all the tenement or farm he holds, taken of INIr. Worsley of the
Boothes, shall remain unto Dorothie his wife during her life, and
afterwards, that it shall return to his two sons Otes and William
Radish. Also he gives to his said wife all the term and occupation
of James Clayton's field at the will and pleasure of his (testator)
good nephewe. Also he gives the lease of his house in Manchester
unto his said wife. And as for the rest of his worldly goods, he
wills that they be equally divided into three even parts, whereof he
gives one part to his wife, the second part to his children, and the
third and last part he reserves to himself and to his own use. He
wills this to stand and remain his last will and testament, of which
he appoints his wife Dorothy Ueddish and his brother-in-law
William Bruerton of Hanford Esq. executors. Witnesses, Thomas
Reddiehe, William Grynhill, Thomas Wilson and Christopher
HaU.
Debts owing to testator : — Thomas Goodyer of Manchester,
draper, and George Birche, mercer, as appeareth by an obligacon,
the sum of 0\
Item of the Widdowe Birche at the Churche Style in Manches-
ter xxs.
Item, a bargaine of wood bought of Mr. Holland of Clifton
cost xx^i.
Item, a bargaine of certaine grounde taken of Mr. Duckenfeild,
fForty poundes.
The inventory of his goods and chattels amounts but to .€125
9s. 5d., including £22 in plate. It enumerates "■ thinges at the
Boothes," " thinges at Chetham Hill," " thinges at William Wood
his house in Manchester." Dorothy his wife died in 1623-4, and
was buried at the Collegiate Church of ]Manchester January 30 in
that year. Her will, dated the 28th of December 1619, is as
follows : —
In the name of God amen. The eighte and twentieth dale of
December in the yeare of the reigne of oure most dread soveraigne
208 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Lord James, by the grace of God Kinge of Englande, Scotlande,
iFraunce and Irelande, Defender of the faith, &c. ; that is to saie,
of Englaude, ffraunce and Irelande the seavententh, and of Scot-
lande the three and fyftieth; I Dorothie Reddish widowe, late
wyfe of George Eeddish late of Reddish in the countie of Lan-
caster gent, deceased, beinge in good health and perfect remem-
brance, God therefore bee praised, and knowinge death to bee
most certaine to all people, do make and devise this my last will
and testament, in manner and forme folio winge : — ffirst and
principally I doe comitt my soule to God Almightie my Maker,
trustinge to bee saved by the precious bloodsheedinge of His deere
Sonne Jhesus Christe my Redeemer, and my bodie to be buried
and entombed in the parish church where it shall please God I
shall depart, and that a hearse to bee sett over mee accordinge to
my birth and callinge. And I doe revoke and recall all former
wills and testaments heretofore made by mee the said Dorothie.
And for the disposinge and leavinge of such worldlie goodes,
Jewells and chattells as I shall have or die possessed of at the tyme
of my death, my will, entente and rainde is as foUoweth : Item I
do geve and bequeath to my sonne Gates Reddish one hundreth
pounds and my signet ringe. Item I do geve to my graundchild
Margret Hardmau fourtie pounds to be paied unto her at her
mariage, and in the meane tyme my said sonne Gates Redish to
ymploie the same to and for her use and behoofe, yeeldinge and
paying yearlie to the said Margret upon the feast dale of St.
Thomas the apostle duringe so longe tyme as she shall lyve
unmaried the soine of foure pounds of lawfull English money.
And yf it please God shee die before shee be maried, then my Avill
and mynd is that my said sonne Gates Redish shall have the same
soriie of foure pounds to his owne proper use and benefitte. Item
I do gyve to my sonne Edward Redish the soine of foure score
pounds ; and I do geve to the children of the same Edward my
sonne twentie poundes to be equally divided amongst them. Item,
Whereas I have alreadye geven to my sonne in lawe Thomas Pigott
foure score pounds yet nev'thelesse I do geve to the said Thomas
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 209
my bcdd and furniture belonginge unto it and twelve pence in
money in full satisfaccon of such portion of goods as lie the said
Thomas might at my death clame in right of Jane his wife and my
daughter. Item I do geve to the children of the same Thomas
Pygott twcntye pounds to be equally divided amongst them. Item
I doe geve to my sonne in lawe John Porter fourtie pounds w'^^ I
already have lent him, and I geve to Alice his wyfe and my
daughter twentie pounds. Item I doe geve to my nephewe
William Brereton off Hanford Esquier a double sovereigne to
make him a ringe. Item I geve to my brother Urian Brereton
one angell in gold to make him a ringe. Item I do geve to the
poore in the parish where I shall die twentie shillings to be devided
at my funerall. Item I doe geve to the Churchwardens of the
parish church of Chedle in the county of Chester and theire
successors fyve pounds of lawfull money of England to bee im-
ployed yearelie towardes the releif of the poore in that parish by the
said Churchwardens at the oversight of whomsoever shall bee the
lord and owner of the Hall of Honford ; and that the profitte of
the said fyve pounds to be geven yearely upon every Good fridaie
to twentie the most impotent and distressed people in the said
parish by sixpence a peeee. Item I do geve and bequeth to the
Churchwardens of the parish of Wilmeslow in the said county and
theire successors fyve pounds of lawfull English money to be
imployed and put forthe yearlie towardes the releif of the poore
within the said parish of Wilmeslow by the said Churchwardens at
the oversight of whomsoever shall be the lord and owner of the
Hall of Honford, &c. Item I do geve to my cozen Elizabeth
Leycester of Tabley the soine of foura markes in money to buy her
a ringe withall. Item my will and mynd is that after my debtes,
legacies and funerall expenses beinge paied and satisfied, I do geve
and bequeth all the rest and residue of my goodes, Jewells, cattells,
chattells and moveables whatsoever to my three daughters, Mar-
gret, Alice and Jane, to be equally devided amongst them of the
free gifte of mee the said Dorothie Reddish theire mother. And I
do constitute, ordaine and make my sonne Edward Reddish and
E £
210 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
my Sonne in lawe Thomas Pygott executors of this my last will
and testament to execute and p'forme the same accordinge to the
true intent and meaninge of this my last will. And I do nominate,
require and praie my loving sonne Gates Reddish to be an overseer
of this my last will and testament, entreatinge him to be an
assistant to see the same well p'formed accordinge to the true
meaninge thereof. And in witnes whereof I the said Dorothie
Reddish have hereunto put my hand and scale as my last will the
dale and yeare first within written, Anno Dni 1619. Witnesses,
Matthew Couksone, Peter Deane, WiUiam Johnson. Her inven-
tory is dated January 21, 1623; her goods and chattels are valued
at £560 15s. 6d.
To return to the elder brother John Reddish, heir to his grand-
father in the first year of Queen Elizabeth's reign. He was yet a
minor when he succeeded to the estates. He married Margaret,
daughter and coheiress of Sir Robert Langley of Agecroft Knt.,
and dying in 1569 left two sons, Edward, who died s.p. and
Alexander his successor, the last heir male of the family seated at
Reddish, whose daughters and coheiresses, Sarah and Grace,
married, the one Clement, sixth son of Sir Edward Coke Knt.,
Chief Justice of England, and the other Sir Robert D'Arci of
Dertford in the county of Kent Krit., Great Usher of the Privy
Chamber to Henry Prince of Wales. Alexander Reddish Esq.
died in 1613.
On the death of Alexander Reddish Esq. the lands of the town-
ship, together with other estates in the county, passed into the pos-
session of Clement Coke Esq. in right of Sarah his wife, daughter
and coheiress of the said Alexander. Their descendants continued
in the enjoyment of them until the close of the last century, when
Thomas William Coke Esq. the then ovrner, wishing to concentrate
his property by adding to his Norfolk estates, disposed of Reddish
Hall and demesne, together with other lands in the township, to
James Harrison of Cheadle Esq., by whose representatives it was
sold June 23, 1808, under authority of an Act of Parliament
obtained for the purpose, to Messrs. Greg of Manchester, in whom
rAROCIIIAL ClIAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 211
it is now vested. The estates thus disposed of were in extent up-
wards of four hundred acres statute measure.
Reddish Hall was situated on the east side of the township, and
was takeu down about the year 1780. It was an ancient timbered
house of singularly interesting character, and was a very perfect
example of the style of domestic architecture prevailing in this
part of the kingdom during the fourteenth and two succeeding
centuries. The building, originally surrounded by a moat, is said
to have been quadrangular in form, enclosing a court-yard, the
entrance to which was by a covered archway from the front. With
the exception of the basement, which was of solid masonry, the
building was constructed entirely of timber and plaster, the details
being rather elaborately ornamented. The spaces formed by the
intersection of the massive oaken timbers were arranged in diaper-
like patterns, and the small intervening compartments filled in
with quatrefoils. The principal front, that given in the accompa-
nying illustration, approached in plan somewhat the form of the
letter E, having a projecting bay at each end and in the centre,
the latter forming the porch, and constituting the main entrance
to the hall. These several bays Avere gabled, and protected by
ornamental barge-boards, each surmounted at the apex by a hip-
knob. The building was of two stories, and retained the usual
peculiarity of the style, having the upper story projecting some-
what beyond the lower. In the interior, the great hall as also
several of the other apartments were wainscoted, the upper panels
being charged with armorial bearings of the Reddish family. In
one apartment the carving was left incomplete, and there was a
tradition that the artist was condemned to die, but respited by the
king until his work was finished, and that to avoid the penalty he
never completed his contract, — an improbable supposition, which
doubtless had no better foundation than the existence of certain
shields left blank, whereon to record the future alliances of the
family. Attached to the hall, and approached by a door to the
left under the entrance gateway, was the domestic chapel appro-
priated to the use of the family and their retainers. The apartment
over the gateway was known as the priest's chamber.
313
t^
b^
o
o
♦
i-H
§ •
>»
^
K'S
w
S
"••-*
^o
)«l
I^
■=i3
/^
^
o
1
'1
o
52-
ft;
s!=*
.^N
a;
-Ow
>*■•>
o^
■a .
g
S
;c?
?>
>o O
^*
^
-tf a
^
o
to
.S c*
P3.2
tn ^S
M 0)1-1
o a'5
a«^ I
7i-< '.
£|^
S !> O
c« « Sh
c« a «j
o ^ a
j3 a 3
rt <"
.«" 0)
Kg5
■5>
K8o
Si
a "^
OK
"3 a
« a
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 213
The township of Reddish derives additional celebrity as having
been at a very early period the seat of the liulme family, ancestors
of William Hulme the munificent founder of the Exhibitions at
Brazenosc College, Oxford, which bear his name.
By an undated deed, Robert, son of William de Hulme conveys
to Richard del Hull '' capellanus" certain messuages in Rediche.
This conveyance appears to have been made in order to a settle-
ment of estates incident to the marriage of his son, since in an
accompanying deed, also without date, there is a re-conveyance on
the part of Richard de Hull of the same estates to Robert, son of
William de Hulme and Margaret his wife. In another deed,
undated, WilHam de Hulme, described as of Reddish, conveys to
John, his brother, certain lands and tenements in Reddish, Denton
and Heaton Norris. As to the time when these conveyances were
made we can but conjecture ; the absence of dates seems to point
to a period not later than the year 1290.
Laurence, third son of Robert Hulme, described as of " Hulme
juxta Stockport/' was living in the 9 Henry V. (1431). He was
succeeded by his son Geoftrey, who married Cecily, daughter of
WiUiam Hulton of Farnworth Esq. In the 8 Elizabeth (1565)
Robert Hulme, great-grandson of the above-named GeoflPrey,
entered a suit at Lancaster against Thomas Hulme, touching an
alleged unlawful detention of title-deeds of messuages and lauds
pledged for security of money lent ; the premises in dispute being
situated in Reddish, Heaton Norris and Denton. Eight years
later he was defendant before the same court in an action with
George Hulme, probably a relative, whose name does not however
appear in the family pedigree. The property then litigated was a
messuage and lands called Tynklers and other lands in ]\Iaghull,
Reddish, Hulme and Heaton. He died in the 27 Elizabeth (1584)
leaving issue by his wife Anne, daughter of Robert Holt of Ash-
worth Esq., a son Ralph, of whom it is stated that he purchased
certain lands with a capital messuage in Hulme in the county of
Lancaster.
Ralph Hulme married Thomasine, daughter and heiress of John
214 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Marler of MancTiester, and on the 1st of ]May 1602 Letters of
Administration of her father's estate were granted to her husband
and herself. Dissensions after\yards sprung up between them, and
in 1614, as appears from certain proceedings in the Consistory-
Court at Chester, they were Hviug apart. She survived her
husband about four years, dying in 1627. Her will is dated
December 25, 1627. She mentions therein her eldest son William,
her daughter Jane, and her younger son John. To the latter she
bequeaths all her property. She complains of the unnatural
behaviour of her elder sou and her daughter, and of the unkind
treatment she had received from her husband. Ralph Hulme died
in 1623.
William Hulme, the eldest son of this unhappy marriage, suc-
ceeded to the estates on the death of his father. His wife was
Christian, daughter of Richard Banaster of Oakenbottom in the
county of Lancaster. He makes his will December 20, 1637. —
In the name of God amen. The twenteth daye of December in the
yeare of the raigne of our Sov'aigne Lord Charles by the grace of
God of England, Scotland, flraunce and Ireland, Kinge, Defendor
of the faith. I William Hulme of Hulme in Redich in the p'ish
of Manchester and countie of Lancaster, gentleman, being of
whole mynde and p'fect memorie, laude and praise be geven to
God therefore, doe make, publish and declare my present testa-
ment conteineing herein my last will in manner and forme follow-
ing : — That is to saye, ffirst and principally I commit and commend
my soule into the hands of Allmightie God my Maker and
Preserver, hopinge in the merits of Jesus Christ His Sonne to be
one of the number of His eilect ; and my bodie to be buried in '
my owne Chappell adioyneing to Jesus Chappell w^in the p'ish
Churche of Manchester, or where yt shall please God to dispose
yt. And as concerneing my worldly estate touchinge my landes,
tenementes, goodes, debtes, cattelles and chatelles, yt is my mynd
and will they shall be disposed of as hereafter followeth : and first
yt is my mynd and will that all the lands belongeing to Hulme
and in Manchester or els wheare shall stand and be setled with the
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 215
p'feets theireof according to the forme, effccte and true meaning
of one Deed indented and made betweene me and certeiuc ffcoffees
in trust relacon theireunto had yt shall and maye more fuUie
appeare. And allsoe it ys my mynd and will that my funerall
cxpences, debts and legacies shall be taken and payed out of all
my whole goods, debts, cattells and chattells whatsoever. And
first I give and bequeath unto Maister Hulton now minister att
Ringley Chappell twentie shillings of lawefull money of England.
Allsoe I give and bequeath unto the Chappell of Hingley the suiiie
of ffyve pounds of good and lawefull money of England to be
imployed for the better yearely maineteineing of a minister theire.
Item I give and bequeath unto Anne Barlowe my nursse tenn
shillings. Item I give and bequeath unto Abraham ffletcher,
Sonne of Thomas ffletcher of Stonicliffe, twentie shillings to be used
onely for the benefyte of the said Abraham till he doe accomplish
the age of twentie and one yeares. Item I doe give and bequeath
unto Raphe ffletcher who now dwells w*^ me the suiiie of sixe
pounds of lawefull money of England, to bynde him prentice to
some gaiuefuU occupacon. Item I doe give unto the same Raphe
my stuffe coate, my greene dublet and breeches. Item I give
unto my brother John Hulme my blacke cloake and my watch.
Item yt is my mynd and will and my desire is that my flFeoffees
would p'rait and suffer Ellen Hulme to have some convenient place
to dwell in rente free till her two sonnes be able to keepe them-
selves. Item it is further my mynde and will that after my debts
paied, theise legacies beforenamed and my funeralls expences truly
deducted, that all the rest and remainder of all my said goods,
debts, cattells and chattells, I refer them in trust to John Hulme
my brother to be used by him or by his appointment to and for
the use and behoofe of William Hulme my sonne, accompting
theireof to the said William Hulme when he the said William
shall accomplish the age of twentie and one yeares, or in case
of his death, then to the issue of the said William Hulme my
sonne. And that this my last Will and Testament maye weU and
truly be p'formed aecordinge to true intent and meaneing of me
216 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
the said William Hulme, I doe hereby appointe, ordaine and make
my welbeloved brother John Hulme my sole and onely executor
to p'forme the same as my trust is in him. And I doe hereby
adnuU and revoke all and everie other and former testament,
gifte, legacie, bequest and executor whatsover att any tyme here-
tofore by me in anye wise made, named, willed or bequethed. In
witnes whereof I the said WilUam Hulme have hereunto put my
hand and seale the daye and yeare abovesaid, 1637. Witnesses,
William Ashton, Joseph Lees, Thomas Cadewell, George Hulme.
The inventory of his goods and chattels is three-fold ; first, as
taken "at his house called Hulme in Redich in the countie of
Lancaster, taken the seconde day of Januarie anno Dni 1637;"
secondly, " More goodes of the said WilUam Hulme at his howse
in Outwood in the parish of Prestwich taken 3 Januarie 1637;"
and thirdly, " More goodes of the said William Hulme at his howse
called Withingreaves Hall w*Hn the towne of Manchester." The
will was proved at Chester December 27, 1637.
He was succeeded by his son William Hulme the Founder, who
was born September 10, 1631, and would therefore be but six
years old at the time of his father's death. He married in 1653
Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. Ralph Robinson of Kersley in the
county of Lancaster, and by her had issue an only son, Banaster
Hulme, who died in the life-time of his father. Being left child-
less, he devoted his estates to charitable uses, subject (in part) to
a life-interest in them bequeathed to his widow. He died October
29, 1691, and was buried in the chapel founded by his ancestors
within the Collegiate Church of JVIanchester. His will is dated
October 24th in the same year : —
I William Hulme, of Kearsley, within the county of Lancaster,
Esquire, doe hereby revoke all former wills by me made, and do
ordain and make this my last will and testament as followeth r
And first I do give and devise unto William Baguley, gent, my
cosen, and to his assignes, my messuages, tenements and lands in
Kearsley and in Outwood and Whitefield in Pilkington, in the said
county, w* I hold under the severall demyses of the Right
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 217
Honourable the Earle of Derby and John Starkie Esq., during my
interest and title therein, upon this trust and condition, that he
the said William Baguley or his assigns shall annually pay unto
Richard Baguley, his brother, and to Christopher and Alexander
Baguley, his uncles, the respective suras of ten pounds a-piece at
Lady Day and Michaelmas Day, equall porcons yearly during the
continuance of the said William his interest therein^ and likewise
uj^on this further condition, that in case Elizabeth my now wife
shall be desirous to inhabit in or upon the said messuage and
tenement in Kearsley, that then he the said William Baguley and
his assigns shall perraitt her the said Elizabeth to hold and enjoy
the said messuage and tenement for and during so many years as
she the said Elizabeth shall pay unto the said William Baguley or
his assignes the annuall sum of eighteen pounds; and as to my
messuages, tenements and lands of inheritance in Heaton Norris,
Denton, Ashtou-uuder-Line, Redditch, Manchester and Harwood,
in the said county, it is my will and mind, and I do hereby devise
all that my capitall messuage, tenement and demesne lands, called
Hulme Edgcroffc and Hulme^s Moor, in Redditch and Denton
aforesaid, unto the said Elizabeth my wife, during her life, in lieu
and recompence of her jointure and dower, she maintaining and
keeping the houses and fences of or belonging to the same in good
and sufficient repair during her interest therein; and after the
decease of my said wife, y° It is my further will, and I do hereby
devise unto my said cosens, Christopher Baguley, Alexander
Baguley and Richard Baguley, the several respective annuall sums
of ten pounds a-piece, to be issuing out of my said capitall mes-
suage, tenement and lands last menconed, and to be payable unto
them respectively at Lady Day and Michaelmas, by equal portions,
for and during the term of their severall lives respectively' ; and for
non-payment thereof it shall be lawfull unto and for the said
Christopher, Alexander and Richard, severally to distraine in and
upon the premisses, from time to time, as in case of a rent-charge.
All the rest and residue of my said inheritable lands and heredita-
ments, from and after my decease, and the reversion of the said
F F
218 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
capitall messuage, demesne lands and premisses soe devised unto
her as aforesaid, from and after her decease charged and chargeable
as is afors^\ I do hereby devise and give unto James Chetham of
Turton Esq., William Hulrae of Davyhulme Esq., and the said
William Baguley, my kinsman, and their heirs for ever, to the
intent and purpose that the clear annuall rents, issues and profits
thence arising and growing, over and above all charges and
reprises, shall be paid and distributed to and amongst such four of
the poor sort of batchellors of arts taken such degree in Brazen •
nose Colledge in Oxford, as from time to time shall resolve to
continue and reside there by the space of four years after such
degree taken, equally and proportionably, as the same rents, issues
and profits shall annually amount unto, and so to continue to such
like four poor batchellors, successively for ever, such said batchellors
from time to time to be nominated and approved of by the Warden
of the Collegiate Church of Manchester, the rectors of the parish
churches of Prestwich and of Bury, in the said county of Lancaster
for the time being, and their successors for ever, my mind and will
being that noe such batchellors shall continue to have anything of
this my exhibition but only for the space of four years, to be
accompted from the time of such degree taken. As to the personall
estate of goods, chatties, debts and credits wherewith it hath
pleased Almighty God to bless me, it is my will, and I do hereby
give one third part (in three parts to be divided) thereof unto the
said Ehzabeth my wife. Item I give and bequeath unto James
Taylor the younger, of Breightmet, the fifteen pounds w* he oweth
unto me by bond, and to Elizabeth his mother five pounds, and
unto James Taylor her husband the forty shilHngs which he owes
unto me. Item I give unto the wife of James Burgess of Man-
chester, five pounds; to Edmund Greaves, my servant, forty
shillings. Item I give unto Joshua Dixon, clerk, five pounds,
whom I desire to preach my funerall sermon ; and all the rest and
residue of my said personall estate, after my debts, legacies and
funerall expenses paid and discharged, I give and bequeath unto
the said William, Christopher, Alexander and, Richard Baguley,
rAROCIIIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 219
equally to be divided amongst them. And of this my last will I
constitute and make the said "William Baguley sole executor. In
"vvitues Avhereof I have hereunto put my hand seal the four-and-
tweutieth day of October, Anno Diii Millesimo sexcentesirao
uonagesimo primo 1691.
And my further will is, that the said Elizabeth my wife, over
and above the said third part of my persouall estate, shall have the
trunck and goods therein w'^^^^ was her late mother's, and all y«
goods and furniture now remaining in the chamber and rooms at
Manchester where we used to lodge, now in the holding of Richard
Hopwood, and such other household goods now in the house at
Kearsley, where wee inhabit, as she shall reasonably desire for the
better furnishing of the said chamber roomes ; and moreover shall
have the use and occupacon of the same chamber and roomes
without the paying of any rent for the same during her natural
life. VV. HuLME.
This writing was signed and sealed by the above-named William
Hulme, and by him declared as and for his last will and testament
in the presence of us who have hereunder written our names as
witnesses, in the presence of the said testator : Tho. Lever, Tho.
Sergeant, Tho. Loe, Mar' Dawson.
His widow survived him nearly nine years, and dying in 1700
was buried Jul}^ 5, at the Collegiate Church. ^ She is described in
her will, which bears date June 19, 1700, as Elizabeth Hulme of
' The precise spot witliiu the walls of the Collegiate Church where are deposited
the remaijis of many members of this family is the chapel which bears their name,
bviilt by some long-forgotten ancestor. The chief memorials still to be traced are
commemorative of William Hulme Esq. the Founder and Elizabeth his wife. A flag-
stone in the centre of the chapel is thus inscribed : —
Hie jacet corpus Gulielmi Hulme de Hulme armigeri qui obiit viccsimo nono
Octobris anno Domini 1691, tetat. suaj 61.
Sub hoc lapide cum marito charissimo nee non peramabili fiUo, Elizabeth Hulme de
Hulme in Reddish vidua quinto die Julii anno Domini 1700 deposita tandem requievit.
Hie etiam jacet corpus filii Banister Hulme, sepulti undecimo die Septembris a.d.
1673. At the foot of the stone are sculptured the arms of the family : — Barry of
eight ; on a canton a chaplet. Crest : a lion's head erased ; on his head a cap of
maintenance.
220 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Kersley widow. She names therein her cousin "William Baguley
of Kersley gent, ; Richard Baguley, clerk, his brother; her cousin
Christopher Baguley, of Outwood ; Elizabeth, daughter of the late
Richard Bradshaw of Pennington Esq., to whom she bequeaths
the sum of .€900 ; her niece Marj^, wife of Charles INIanwariug of
Pennington gent., and daughter of her (testatrix) sister Jane
Egerton ; her niece Anne, wife of John Crosse of Turton gent.,
the other daughter of her (testatrix) sister Jane Egerton.
She names as her executor William Assheton clerk, rector of
Prestwich.
On the death of Mrs. Hulme the reversion of the rest of the
estates came to the trustees named in her husband^s will. At this
time the number of exhibitioners was four, and the annual rental
of the estates was about £30 or £40, but this could scarcely
include the estates in which Mrs. Hulme had possessed a life-
interest. Each exhibitioner received £10 per annum.
In 1770 an Act of Parliament was obtained by the trustees to
enable them to grant building-leases of lands belonging to the
Charity, situated within the town of Manchester, for terms not
exceeding niuety-niae years, or for one, two or three lives. Power
was also given to increase the number of exhibitions from four to
ten, and the yearly allowance to the exhibitioners from £60 to ^£"80.
By a later act, 35 George III. cap. 63 (1795), further powers
were granted to the trustees to convey in fee, or to grant leases for
lives or for long terms of years, with or without covenants for
renewal, under reserved yearly rents. They were also empowered
to increase the number of exhibitions to fifteen, and the annual
allowance to each exhibitioner to £110.
In 1814 a private act was passed (54 George III. cap. 205)
entitled " An act for amending two several acts of the 10th an-d
35tli years of the reign of his present Majesty relating to the
estates devised by William Hulme Esq., and to enable the trustees
thereof to apply the trust monies in making an allowance to and
provision for the exhibitioners of certain exhibitions founded by
the said testator in Brazenose College, Oxford ; and also in found-
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 221
ing and supporting a lecture in Divinity in the said college, and
to incorporate tlie said trustees, and for other the purposes therein
mentioned." After reciting that by reason of the great increase
in the value of the said trust estate since the passing of the last-
recited act, the annual proceeds arising therefrom, amounting to
the yearly sum of e€2,502 16s. 8d. over and above the interest of
the sum of £23,700 "which the said trustees had saved out of the
rents and profits of the said trust estates, after paying and applying
such parts thereof as they had from time to time deemed necessary
and expedient for the support and improvement of the said estates,
it was enacted as follows : —
1. To allow to each exhibitioner such annual sum as they (the
trustees) should think proper, not exceeding £220.
2. To provide rooms and lodgings in Oxford for the residence
and accommodation of the exhibitioners rent-free, and for
that purpose to purchase or lease, and alter and improve or
build houses in Oxford.
3. Not to lay out for the last-meutioned purpose more than
£5,000. "
4. To pay a Lecturer in Divinity, to be annually nominated by
the Principal of Brazenose College, such an annual sum as
the trustees should think fit, not exceeding £150.
5. The fifth section incorporates the trustees by the title of
"The Trustees of the estate devised by William Hulme
Esq.," and empowers them to have and use a seal with
Hulme's coat of arms engraved thereon, and inscribed
"Sigillum Hulmianum."
6. To elect and choose as many persons as would keep up the
number of trustees at twelve.
7. To provide for an annual meeting of the trustees in Man-
chester on the first Thursday after the feast of St. ]\Iichael
the Archangel, between ten and twelve, for the transaction
of all business relating to the trust estates.
8. To empower the nominators to appoint undergraduates as
exhibitioners (hitherto the choice of the trustees had been
223 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
limited to bachelors of arts, in accordance with the terms of
Mr. Hulme's will).
9. To empower the trustees to dispense with the residence of
exhibitioners in college for certain terms.
10 and 11. Provisions for payment of expenses.
12. Provides that a statement of the annual receipts and dis-
bursements should be transmitted to each trustee.
13. Provides that buildings to be purchased in Oxford should not
be part of Brazenose College unless accessible to the college
by the common gate.
In 1827 the trustees had again recourse to Parliament for a further
extension of their powers. The act then obtained (6 and 7 George
IV. cap. 9) is entitled " An act to enable the trustees of the estates
devised by William Hulme Esq. to appropriate certain parts of the
accumulated funds arising from the said estates in the purchase of
advowsons, and for other purposes therein mentioned." After
reciting that the number of exhibitioners remained the same as at
the passing of the last act, and that the value of the exhibitions
had been gradually augmented, the value of each being now ^£155,
namely £120 towards maintenance and lodging, and £So for books ;
and that a lecturer in Divinity had been appointed at a yearly salary
of j6105; that as yet they had been unable to carry into effect the
provisions of that act by which they were empowered to provide
rooms and lodgings in Oxford for the exhibitioners j that at the
last annual meeting in 1826 the annual income arising from such
part of the said trust estates as consisted of lands and heredita-
ments amounted to the sum of £3,291 17s. lid., and that the
accumulated fund which had from time to time arisen from the
surplus rents and profits of the said trust estates amounted to the
sum of £42,203 Os. 4d., and that the dividends and interest
annually accruing fi'om such fund produced the sum of £1,658 19s. ;
it was enacted as follows : —
- 1. The trustees are empowered to purchase out of the existing
and future accumulations, advowsons or other ecclesiastical
benefices provided that a surplus accumulated fund of
I'AUOCIIIAL CIIArEL OF DIDSBURY. 223
.€20,000 shall be left at the least, and that not more than
j€7,000 should be expended on one advowson.
2. That notice of all purchases should be given to the Bishop of
Chester and to the Principal of Brazenose College.
3. That the trustees should transmit to the Bishop of Chester a
list of all who had been exhibitioners on Hulme's founda-
tion ; and in every succeeding year a list of all who had
been nominated exhibitioners in that year.
4. That notice of avoidance of any living should be given to the
Bishop of Chester and to the Principal of Brazenose College.
5. That within five months after the avoidance of any living the
trustees should present another fit person.
6. That if the trustees do not present within five months, the
appointment to lapse to the Bishop of Chester out of
persons who had been exhibitioners.
7. Empowers the trustees out of any surplus income to lay out
in erecting or building parsonage-houses and outbuildings
any sum not exceeding £700 on the buildings of any one
benefice.
8. The trustees may purchase and hold advowsons notwith-
standing statutes of Mortmain.
9 and 10. Are formal provisions, saving rights, &c.
11 and 12. As to expenses, &c.
The number of advowsons purchased is about thirty, and their
aggregate yearly value upwards of £5,000. They vary in amount
from £665 to £8S per annum ; nine of them are above £200 a
year, four above £150, five above £100, and the remainder below
that amount. The sum set apart for purchase-money, endowment,
&c., has been £46,546 9s. 7d.
In 1839, the trustees applied for and obtained further powers,
and an act was passed (2 Vict. cap. 17), entitled "An act to enable
the trustees of the estates devised by AVilliam Hulme Esq. to
appropriate certain parts of the accumulated fund arising from the
said estates towards the endowment of benefices, the building of
234 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
churches^ and for other purposes." After reciting that the trustees
had, by virtue of the power given to them by the last-recited act,
purchased several advowsons on the terras therein specified ; that
they had not yet been able to provide residence and accommoda-
tion for the exhibitioners as contemplated in the act obtained in
the 54 George III. ; that at the meeting of the trustees held in
Manchester February 1, 1839, it appeared from the accounts sub-
mitted that the gross annual income arising from such parts of the
said trust estates as consisted of land and real estate amounted
on the 23rd June 1838 to the sum of £4,376 19s. Id., and that
the accumulated fund which had from time to time arisen from
the surplus rents and a cash-balance in hand had amounted in
value to £28,005 17s. 4d., and that the dividends and interest
annually accruing from such funds and securities produced the
sum of £922 17s. 4d.; making together an annual aggregate
income of £5,299 16s. 5d. ;
It was enacted —
1. To repeal so much of the statute 6 and 7 George IV. as dii^ected
the accumulated fund to be kept up to 6^20,000; and in
lieu thereof provides that the accumulated fund should not
be less than =£'5,000, nor without the consent in writing of
three-fourths of the trustees not less than £10,000.
2. Empowers the trustees to endow or augment the endowment
of any benefice purchased by them ; so as such endowment
or augmentation did not exceed in any one case £7,000.
This clause introduces the restriction "That the trustees
shall be members of the United Church of England and
Ireland.^^
3. Empowers the trustees to expend such sums as they should
think fit in building, endowing and (providing a fund for)
repairing churches or chapels under the Church Building
Acts, provided that the sum expended in building or
endowing any church or chapel should not exceed £7,000 ;
and no fund for repairs to exceed £350.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 225
4. Rights of patronage to be exercised by the trustees for the
purposes of the trust within five months after the va-
cancy of any hviug.
5. If no proper person be presented by the trustees within five
months after a vacancy, that presentation to lapse to the
Bishop of Chester.
6. Empowers the trustees to purchase or build parsonage-houses
and to purchase glebes to be attached thereto, not appro-
priating in any one ease more than ^€700.
7. Alters the day of each annual general meeting of the trustees
to the first Monday after the feast of St. Michael the
Archangel.
8. Gives to the trustees, as patrons, all the rights which the
patron of any the like ecclesiastical benefices possesses.
9. 10, 11, 12. Are formal provisions for defraying expenses of
act ; saving rights, &c.^
This is the latest statement given by the trustees to the public.
Hulme Hall is situated in the south-western corner of the town-
ship. It has been rebuilt of late years, and is now converted into
a farm-house. Together with the demesne it seems to have
received its designation of Hulme from the name of its owners
and occupiers. In 1578 the tithes of " Hulme near Stopforde/'
and in 1G35 of " Hulme near Stockport" were specially recorded
as being conveyed to the Collegiate and Parish Church of Man-
chester as well as those of Reddish generally. The more modern
name of the house is Broadstone Hall, by which designation,
however, it was known as early as 1637.
1 Report from the Select Committee on Manchester and Salford Education, vol. i.
Appendix, pp. 477-481. See also " Some Account of the Educational Charity founded
by William Hulme," by Alexander Kay, Manchester, 1855.
G G
326
A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Sulme of Bftitii5l)*
Lawrence Hulme of Manchester, thircl=]Margaret, dan. and heiress
son of Robert Hulme of Hulme juxta I of William Buldre of Man-
Stockport, CO. Lane, 9 Hen. V. | Chester.
Geoffrey Hulme of Manchester,= Cecelia, dau. of William
6 Edw. IV. I Hulton of Farnworth.
Ralph Hulme of ]Manchester,=Elizaheth, dau. of Richard
19 Edw. IV. I Bexwick of Manchester.
Stephen Hulme, 15 Hen. VIII = Alice, dau. and coheir of
I Robert Labrey.
Robert Hulme, died 29 Dec.= Anne, dau. of Robert Holt
27 Eliz. I of Ashworth.
Ralph Hulme, purchased cer-:
tain lands with a capital mes-
suage in Hulme, co. Lane; died
3 June 21 Jas. I.
= Thomasine, dau. and heiress
to John Marler; mar. at Man-
chester Dec. 22, 1593.
John Hulme,
bapt at Coll.
Ch. July 2*^,
1599; dieds.p;
named in his
brothers will.
W^illiam Hulme =Christian, dau. of
of Hulme, Gent.;
died in 1637; will
dated Dec. 20,
1637; proved at
Chester Dec. 27,
1637.
Richard Bauaster
of Oakenbottom,
CO. Lane; mar. lie.
dat. May 1, 1630;
bur. at Prestwich
Sept. 14, 1633.
Mary Hulme,
bur. at Prest-
wich May 21,
1C18.
Jane Hulme,
liv. Dec. 25,
1627, the date
of her mo-
ther's will.
Katharine Hulme,
bapt. at Prestwich
Dec. 9, 1632; bur.
there April 5, 1634.
William Hulme of Hulme,
vet. 33 Sept. 10, 1664; died
Oct. 29, 1691.
= Elizabeth, dau. of Ralph Robinson
I of Kersley, co. Lane; mar. at
Prestwich Aug. 2, 1653; bur. at
Coll. Ch. July 5, 1700.
Banaster Hulme. oet. 6, Sept. 10, 1664;
bur. at Coll. Ch. Sept. 11, 1673.
For several generations a family of some position named Stanley
was resident in the township.
By an undated deed, Thomas le Hermyte de Stokeporte and
Margaret, daughter of Robert de Standleye, convey one messuage
and lands in Denton, certain lauds in Ptedich called Egecroft, and
other specified lands. The name of the individual to whom the
conveyance is made is not given in the abstract.
This Robert de Standleye may possibly have been ancestor to a
family of that name residing in Reddish at a later period, in the
reign of Elizabeth. From certain depositions taken at Chester in
1603, it appears that WilHam Standley of Reddish in Manchester
PAROCHIAL CIIArEL OF DIDSBURY. 227
parish did, by his last will, after payment of certain legacies, give
all the rest of his goods unto Margaret his wife, whom he appointed
sole executrix. Attached to these depositions is a letter to Chan-
cellor Yate from ]Mr. Richardson, Dean of Manchester, stating that
Margaret Standleye aforesaid is so impotent and aged that she was
not able to travaile to Warrington much lesse to Chester. Their
actual place of residence was Woodhall in lleddish, in the south-
east corner of the township, overlooking the river Tame, about one
mile north of Stockport. They were probably tenants of the
Reddish family, and not absolute owners of the estate. Woodhall
was held in the 36 Elizabeth (1593) by one William Nicholson
under a lease from Richard Holland of Denton Esq., who had
married the widow of John Reddish Esq. In that year Nicholson
as lessee entered an action in the Duchy Court of Lancaster against
Alexander Reddish Esq., eldest son and heir of the aforesaid John
Reddish. The premises in dispute were " a messuage called The
Woodhall and the lands and appurtenances therewith held,"
situated in Reddish.
Connected with the foregoing, though in what degree of affinity
does not appear, was Edward Stanley gent., resident at Woodhall
in Reddish in the reign of Charles I. In 1642 he was present at
the siege of Manchester, taking part with the parliamentarians,
who then held the town against the Earl of Derby. He was
severely wounded in the enterprise, and died without making any
formal disposition of his estate. The following nuncupative will,
attested by the depositions of witnesses, is derived from the
Bishop's Registry at Chester : — INIem. That in or about the
raonethes of September or October anno Dni 1642 Edward Stanley
of Rcdditch in the parish of Manchester and county of Lancaster
and diocese of Chester gent, deceased, being in perfect health and
of good memory, yet being a souldier and to goe upon service, and
therefore mindfull of mortality and the casualties of warre, did
make and declare his last will in words without writing, in manner
and forme followinge, That is to say, Hee did give his estate, goodes
and whatsoever he held to his sister Anne Goddart and to his
238 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
sister Alice Holme and her children, or to that or the like effect,
in p'nce of credible witnesses, and afterwards departed this life.
Depositions.
Deposition of wyttnesses sworne and exaied upon the last Will
and Testam* nuncupative of Edward Stanley late of Redditch in
the p'ishe of jNIanchester in y^ countie of Lancasf and diocese of
Chesf gent, deceased, taken the xx*^ day of August Ano Diii 1046
by Edward Woolmer of fflixton in y« sayd countie of Lancasf
clerke, by vertue of a Coission to him and others directed from y^
Right Worshipfull Edmund jNIainwaringe, Doctor of Civill Lawe
and Chauncellor of y« Consistoriall Court att Chesty bearinge date
ye xiiijtii day of August 1646, as followeth : —
Mary Hullme of Woodhall in Redditch in the p'ishe of Manchest^
and countie of Lancasf, of the age of three score and fower yeares
or thereabouts, sworne and exaied, sayth, — That she the sayd Mary
Hullme did well knowe and had long knowne him the sayd Edward
Stanley before his death; he the sayd Edward Stanley and his father
lyvinge in one bowse togeather w^^^ her and her husband : And this
dep'ent sayth that in or about y*^ moneth of September to her best
remembrance, when y'' Earle of Derby came against Manchester to
beseige y^ towne, he the sayd Edward Stanley havinge a purpose
amongst others his iieyghbors to goe into Manchester for y"
defence and ayde of the sayd towne, did before he went, beinge in
p'fect health and good memorie, in the p'sencc of and before this
dep'ent and her husband James Hullme (scythence deceased)
freely and of his o^vn meere accord make knowne, declare and
publish to this depon* and her husband, That yf it did please God
he were slayne, or did otherwyse dye, his minde and will was and
he did then freely and absolutely give all his whole estate in
moneyes and goodes and whatsoever he had unto his twoe sist^s
Anne Goddart and Alles Hullme and her children. And further
this depon* sayth, That before the sayd Edward Stanley went forth
of y'^ howse towardes JNIanchester, he told her and her husband of
a certainc box w* he had hid w'"'' yf they did finde it there was that
rAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 229
in it would doc them goodc. And this dcpon* both tlicn and after
his returne from Manchester and before he dyed moved the sayd
Edward Stanley to remember his sister Mary wyfc of Robert
Chorlcton of Wythington and her children ; but he answered this
depon*^ y* the sayd Robert Chorlcton should never have anythinge
of his. And when this depon* spake to him againe and desired
him to be good to his sister Mary and her children he went his
way and gave her never a worde, and not longe tyme after dyed.
Scythence which tyme this depon* never heard that the sayd
Edward Stanley ever made any other disposition of his goodes and
estate. (Signed)
Mary Hullme + the sayd deponents marke.
Item Theophilus Nicholson of Redditeh in the countie of Lan-
cast'' yeoman, of the age of thirtie fowre yeares or thereabouts,
sworne and examined sayth y* Mary Hullme of Redditeh afore-
sayde did in the p'senee of the sayd Theophilus Nicholson declare
that INIr. Edward Stanley late of Redditeh deceased had given and
disposed his whole estate to his twoe sisters Anne Goddart and
A lies Hulme and her children, and that James Hullme husband to
the sayd Mary, being then and there by, did affirme and aver the
same. (Signed)
Theophilus Nicholson.
The name of another member of this family, William Stanley of
Woodhall gent., whose sympathies appear to have been on the side
of the royalists, occurs in the list of those in 164G compounding
for their estates ; this he did by the payment of £46 13s.
230 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
TOWNSHIP OF LEVENSHULME.
Levenshulme is a township in Manchester parish, lying three
miles south-east of Manchester. It is bounded on the north by
Gorton and Rusholme, on the south by Burnage and Heaton
Norris, on the east by Reddish, and on the west by Rusholme.
The orthography of the name has varied at different periods, being
written Lywensholme, Lewonshulme, Lerwoneshulme, Lamsholme,
Leysholme, Lensholme, Lentsholme, Lavonsholme, Levensholme,
Leyvenshulme, Leinshulme, &c. From the sign of the possessive
case, the first syllable would seem to indicate the name of the first
colonist or early proprietor, whilst the suffix " holme'^ or " hulme"
signifies in the Anglo-Saxon a flat area by the side of a stream or
river, occasionally submerged by floods ; or the name " Leven""
may be derived (for in the etymology of words much is left to con-
jecture) from a brook intersecting the township, which may at one
time have received the name " Leven," as did certain rivers in
Cumberland, Dumbarton, Fife, &c., signifying in the Celtic
"smooth.^^ It is worthy of i^emark that of the four townships
within Manchester parish terminating in "\\o\va(i," three abut
upon each other; thus Kirkmanshulme borders on Rusholme, and
Rusholme on Levenshulme.
The annals of this township are of the scantiest and most meagre
description, no family of note having at any time resided there ;
scattered farm-houses and a few isolated cottages bordering upon
the old Stockport lane (for road it could not then be called) con-
stituting the entire township.
In the Survey of Manchester in 1322 we find the tenants of
Lywensholme referred to the Lower Bailiwick of IManchester, and
paying their proportion to the maintenance of the bailiffs and
under-bailiffs of the manor.
The earliest landed proprietors in the township of whom any
record now remains were the family of Legh of Baguley in the
county of Chester, who were chief if not exclusive lords of the soil.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 231
Sir John Legh of Bagulcy Knt., son and heir of Edmund Lcgh
Esq. and INlargery his wife, married Ellen, daughter of Sir William
Booth of Dunham INIassey in the G Edward IV. (14G6). Besides
lawful issue he had an illegitimate son, John Legh, living in the
21 Henry YII. (1505), on whom he settled a tenement in Levens-
hulme as an annuity for his life.^
In the 19 Elizabeth (1576) Margaret Vaudrey, elaiming by con-
veyance from Edward Legh, enters an action at Lancaster against
Robert Shelmerdyne, John Smythe, Henry Tymperley, James
Bowker and others as lessees of William Radeliffe, the matter in
dispute being certain messuages and lands in Levenshulme. Erom
this it may be inferred that the Radclifte family, though what
branch does not appear, possessed also at this time an interest in
the township. Two years later another suit was commenced by
the same plaintiff against Henry Brome, Thomas Holme, John
Glossoppe, James Shelmerdyne and others in relation to similar
premises in Levenshulme. From the pedigree of Legh it appears
that Margaret Vaudrey, daughter of Robert Vaudrey of Biddings
in Timperly gent., became the second wife of Edward Legh of
Baguley Esq., who died in 1607. This, however, could scarcely be
the plaintiflF in the above-mentioned suits, since in 1584, in a sub-
sequent action, she is associated with one John Coppocke, and
three years later in certain legal proceedings before the same court
she is styled ]Margaret Coppocke, otherwise V^audrey, implying
that a marriage had taken place between herself and Coppocke.
She would doubtless be of the same family as the wife of Edward
Legh, if not actually his wife.
Other lands in the township form in part the endowment of
Gorton Episcopal Chapel. These were purchased in 1734 by sub-
scription of the inhabitants of Gorton, aided by a grant from the
governors of Queen Anne's Bounty. This estate also belonged
originally to the family of Legh, but was conveyed in 1620 by
Richard Legh of Baguley Esq. and Henry, his eldest son and heir
to John Thorpe of Levenshulme ; from his grandson it passed to
' Ormerod's History of Cheshire, vol. i. p. 416.
232 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Obadiah Hulme of Reddish^ chapman, whose son Samuel Hulme
disposed of it to the governors of Queen Anne's Bounty for the
purpose already indicated.
About the middle of the seventeenth century the Manchester
family of Gilliam appears among the landed proprietors in the
township. John Gilliam gent., who is described as of Levens-
hulme, was son and heir of John Gilliam of the same place Esq.
(a captain in the parliamentary interest and justice of the peace).
He was baptised at Littleborough July 2, 1658, and married Jane,
daughter of Thomas Percival of Royton gent. By will dated June
18, 1G88, and proved at Chester October 26 in the same year, he
left many legacies for charitable purposes, and settled his very
large estates in Newton, Droylsden, Eailsworth, Fallowfield,
Horsedge, Oldham, Crompton, Heaton Norris, Levenshulm other-
wise Leyvenshulrae otherwise Leynshulme, Westleigh, Hindley,
Woodhouses in the parish of Ashton-under-Lyne, Barton-upon-
Irwell, Reddivall and Pinnington on his only child Jane Gilliam,
who subsequently married John Greaves of Culcheth Esq. High
Sheriff of Lancashire in 1733.^ Mr. Gilliam of Jjevenshulme was
in the number of those gentlemen summoned in 1664 by Sir
William Dugdalc, Norroy King of Arms, to register their descents
and to justify their titles to such coats of arms and crests as they
usually bear.
The earliest Population Returns for Levenshulme are in 1774,
in which year there were 55 houses tenanted by 56 families or 280
individuals, of whom one hundred and five were under the age of
15 ; thirty-six above 50; seven above 60; and six above 70.
In 1801 the inhabitants numbered 628; in 1811, 674; in 1821,
768; in 1831, 1,086; in 1841, 1,231; and in 1851, 1,902.
In 1655 there were 25 persons in the township rated to the
relief of the poor, and the amount of rate collected for the six
months ending November 25 was £7. Amongst the ratepayers
were Thurstan Peake; John Hobson, draper; John Hobson, swaler
[corn-miller] ; Alexander and Ralph Bowerhouse ; John Glossop,
^ Notitia Cestriensis, vol. ii. part i. ])p, 91, 92.
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 283
uud John Shelmcrdinc. In 1847 the same rates amounted to
€422 6s. lid.
In 1692 the annual value of real property in Levenshulme, as
assessed to the land-tax, was £154; in 1815, as assessed to the
county-rate, .€2,340; in 1829, £3,316; in 1841, £6,056; and in
1853,'£7,342.
The superficial area of the township, as given in 1831 by Mr.
Rickman, is 1,050 acres; in the Census Returns of 1851 it is
reduced to 605 acres ; Messrs. Johnson and Son's Survey in 1818
estimates it at 602 acres ; and the Ordnance Survey at 602 acres.
In 1835 the number of county voters in Levenshulme was 32. In
1844 the landowners in the township numbered forty-nine; of
these the principal were — a. r. p.
Grimshaw, Samuel 59 3 27
Greaves, John 51 0 22
Walker, John Goldie 43 0 28
Glendinning, Alexander 36 1 29
Heywood, Miss 31 1 18
Coston, Thomas 30 1 4
Bostock, John, Trustees of 28 3 17
Hobson, John 26 1 0
Gorton Chapel, Incumbent of ...26 0 36
Worsley, Thomas Carill 25 1 27
Todd, Rev. Thomas 15 3 85
Manchester and Birmingham Rail-
way Company 8 0 23
Assuming the total area of the township to be 602 acres it was
thus divided : — Arable land, 16 acres ; meadow and pasture land,
576 acres; buildings, 10 acres. A branch of the London and
North Western Railway passes through the township.
Ecclesiastically considered, Levenshulme is situated in the parish
of Manchester, and has from the earliest times owned its relation-
ship by the payment of tithe.
Though here included as a part of the ancient chapelry of Dids-
bury, no better reason can be assigned for such classification than
H H
334 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
its anuexation to Heaton Norris on the severance of that township
from Didsbury chapel in 1765, at which time Heaton Norris,
separated from Didsbury and united to Reddish and Levenshuime,
was constituted a distinct ecclesiastical district under the then
recently-erected chapel of St. Thomas's, Heaton Norris. In the
charters of the Collegiate Church mention is made in 1556 of the
tithes of "Leysholme/' in 1578 of '' Lensholme," and in 1635 of
" Lentsholme." In the 9 of Elizabeth (1566) Alexander Barlow
Esq., as farmer or tenant to the Guardian (Warden) and Chaplains
of the College of Manchester, sues Thomas Herle, Guardian of the
said college, for some breach of contract in relation to the tithes
of Levensholme and other hamlets within the parish of Manches-
ter. A later lessee was Laurence Crowther, who in 1678 sued
William Bradshaw of Blackley and William Bayley of Levens-
holme, in the Ecclesiastical Court of Chester for " subtraction or
detention of tythes or other ecclesiastical rights'^ to him apper-
taining as " farmer or lawful possessor of the tithes belonging to
the rectory or parish church of Manchester." Their offence had
this further feature of aggravation, that they had also " contemned
and disobeyed the process and proceedings of the said court of this
diocese by not appearing at days and times appointed, being there-
unto lawfully cited." In 1701 the tithes of the township were leased
to Jo. Coppock for £7 per annum. In 1848 the rent-charge in
lieu of tithes over the same area payable to the Dean and Canons
of Manchester was ^60.
In December 1853 efforts were made to procure a subdivision of
the now over-populated ecclesiastical district of St. Thomas's,
Heaton Norris, by separating Levenshulme, and constituting it a
distinct and independent district. To this end a subscription was
entered into for the purpose of erecting a school-room in the
township, intended as the nucleus of a future church. A site was
given by Charles Carill Worsley Esq. of Piatt, and the structure
was completed at a cost of £1,200 ; a residence for the master is
also included in the design. The school is sufficiently large to
accommodate 400 children. Towards its erection the National
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 235
Society and the Committee of Council on Education have contri-
buted to the extent of .€494. Mr. Worsley has also given a site
for a church and parsonage-house, both already conveyed ; and it
is expected the building of a church will shortly be commenced.
The Wcsleyans have a small chapel in the village.
There is also a Roman CathoUc Chapel in Levenshulme, and a
house lately given by INIr. Grimshaw of Buxton to a sisterhood of
that communion. Attached to the mission is a house for the use
of the priest.
A school and school-house formerly stood on a piece of waste
ground in this township, upon which there was the following
inscription : — " This school was erected and endowed by Thomas
Fletcher, Mary Dickinson, John Siddall and other charitable
benefactors a.d. 1754;" but the Charity Commissioners in their
enquiry in 1826 could not discover that there were ever any docu-
ments in the township relating to this school, or that there was
ever any permanent income appropriated to its support ; a sum of
£5 a year formerly paid to the master by Mr. Collier, a Quaker,
then living at Stockport, but who was then dead, being believed by
them to have been a voluntary payment.
At a vestry meeting of the township held September 29, 1823,
it was resolved that a contract should be made with the Commis-
sioners of the Manchester and Buxton turnpike road for the sale
of the above-mentioned school and school-house, by Messrs. John
Gray, Thomas Bibby and John Walker, who were thereby em-
powered to treat with the said commissioners, and with the advice
of select vestry to purchase a piece of land in fee-simple and to
erect thereon a convenient school and school-house, and other
requisite buildings on the most economical plan, and that the same
should be vested in trustees to be thereafter named. On the 21st
of October 1823, the three persons above-named reported that they
had sold the old school for £150, and it was resolved that Thomas
Bibby and John Haughton should superintend the taking down
the school and depositing the materials in proper places. On the
30th of October 1823, it was resolved that the new school and
236 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
school-houses should be erected by subscription, in addition to the
present fund, and that trustees should be elected by subscribers of
£2 each.
The sum of £150, for which the premises were sold, was received
by Mr. John Gray. A misunderstanding afterwards arose between
him and the two other persons above-mentioned, with respect to the
building a new school-house, under the following circumstances :
A piece of land containing 396 square yards was given by James
Wilde Esq. for the purpose of building a school thereon, and was
conveyed for a nominal consideration to Messrs. Gray, Walker and
Bibby, in fee-simple, by indentures of lease and release dated 26th
and 27th of March 1824 ; the trusts upon which the land was
given are not, however, expressed in the conveyance. Upon these
premises Mr. Gray was anxious that a school should be built, the
expenses of which were estimated at <£340. Early in the year
1825 Mr. John Haughton, a builder in Levenshulme, purchased of
his own accord a piece of ground containing about 500 square
yards, subject to a rent of one penny a squai'e yard, and built a
school and house thereon, at his own expense, with the assistance
of such of the materials of the old school as were capable of being
used for the purpose ; and having incurred this expense he became
desirous that the inhabitants of the township should purchase this
land and the buildings erected thereon at the price which they
respectively cost him. There was some dispute as to the sum for
which Mr. Haughton should give credit, in respect of the materials
of the old school used by him as above-mentioned, and which were
originally valued at £50; but the principal subject of dispute was
whether the premises on which Mr. Haughton has built should be
purchased, or whether a new school should be built on the land
given by Mr. Wilde. Mr. Gray insisted upon the adoption of the
latter against the opinion of the two other persons apppointed by
the township to act with him, they being anxious to purchase the
premises of Mr. Haughton, and to give back to Mr. Wilde the land
conveyed to trustees by him as above-mentioned.
In consequence of these disputes, Mr. Briddon was appointed
PAROCHIAL CHAPEL OF DIDSBURY. 237
treasurer at a vestry meeting held August 11, 1824, but Mr. Gray
has refused to pay over to him the money deposited in his hands,
stating that he was ready to lay it out in building a school accord-
ing to the original intentions of the vestry held in 1823, and the
money was placed in Mr. Gray^s name in the bank of jMessrs.
Jones Loyd and Co,
It appeared to the Charity Commissioners during their inquiry
that as the inhabitants of the township were the proper judges of
the mode in which the money should be laid out for the purpose
of building a school in lieu of that which was erected in 1 754, and
as Mr. Gray had engaged to pay over the money in his hands in
such manner as he should be advised by the Commissioners, it was
expedient that a town^s meeting should be held for the purpose of
determiuiug in what manner the money should be laid out, which
accordingly was done ; and at a meeting held March 1, 1826, it
was resolved —
I. That the resolution passed at a public town's meeting held
August 11, 1824, appointing Mr. Abram Briddon, treasurer of the
Levenshulme school-fund, should be confirmed.
II. That a public town's meeting should be held on the 13th of
March, to take into consideration the state of the Levenshulme
school -fund.
This meeting also was held, six persons being present, of whom
Mr. John Haughton was one, and it appearing that Mr. John Gray
not having paid over to ]Mr. Abram Briddon, the treasurer of the
Levenshulme school-fund, the money in his hands, a representation
to that eflFect was made to the Commissioners, who, thinking that
the question recommended to the consideration of the town's
meeting had not been brought under discussion, recommended
that it should be considered at another meeting.^
The later proceedings in this disputed case are not known in
detail, the book being lost in which were recorded the decision of
the inhabitants in vestry assembled. Mr. Haughton's offer was not,
however, accepted by the trustees, who erected instead a suitable
* Charity Commission Reports, vol. 16, pp. 199-200.
238 A HISTORY, ETC.
building on the site given by Mr. Wilde, Some years afterwards a
Mechanics' Institution was commenced in the township, and the
promoters availed themselves of this building as the place for their
meeting as well as for the general purposes of the institution ; but
being found, in process of time, inconveniently small, a new
structure was determined on, and it was resolved to incorporate
with the new institution the existing schools. Accordingly in
the year 1854 the building was commenced, which is already
completed, and bears the name " Levenshulme Mechanics' Insti-
tution and Schools." The school-building thus deserted is now
claimed by the Wesleyans, whose only plea is the permission, of
late years accorded to them by the township, of using the school as
a chapel on Sundays, and out of school hours during the remainder
of the week. The intervention of the Charity Commissioners has
been again sought, and the matter is now under consideration.
^
'^ -
5353^
^^o
CHORLTON CHAPEL
A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT CHAPEL
OF CHORLTON.
HORLTON township lies four miles south-west of
Manchester, and is bounded on the north by Stret-
ford ; on the south by the river Mersey, which there
divides the counties of Lancaster and Chester ; on
the east by Withington and Didsbury ; and on the
west by Stretford and the river Mersey. The name was anciently
written, as chance seemed to direct, Charlton, Charleton, Cherlton,
Chereleton, Chorleton, Chourlton, Chourton, Chowerton, Chowi'e-
ton, Chorllerton, Chollerton, Cholreton, Chowlerton, &c. Whitaker
derives it from Cheorl, a Saxon appellative, and tun a town or
township.
There are two hamlets in Manchester parish bearing this desig-
nation, the one known as Chorlton-row or roe, i.e. the Chorlton
adjoining the old Roman row or road to Buxton, called also Chorl-
ton-upon-Medlock as being situated on the river of that name,i
and the other, the township of which it is now proposed to treat,
I Of the signification of the name 3IedlocJc, Whitaker thus w-rites : Med or Mat,
and Lug or ioc, equally signify water : and, in composition, imply a quantity of it,
either a river or a late. The former constitutes half the name of the famous Med- way
and the latter forms the whole of it in the Loxa of Scotland and the Logia of
Ireland, the Lug of Herefordshire, the Lucus of Liguria in ancient Italy, the Locke
of Somersetshire, and the great variety of Lochs in Ireland and Scotland. — Whit-
aker's Sistary of Manchester, vol. i. p. 290, second edition.
II
342 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
found associated at the present day with the adjacent small hamlet
of Hardy, under the distinguishing name of Chorlton-cum-H ardy.
In the name of its adjunct, Hardy, we have a record transmitted
of the primitive features of INIanchester and its neighbourhood
when encompassed by an all but impenetrable forest. Speaking of
the less-extended forest in the centre of which the British Man-
cenion and the Roman-British INIancunium stood, Whitaker adds,
" The south side [of the parish] peculiarly retained the name of
Arden [or great wood] for ages, as I have previously shown ; and
was latterly broken into the thickets that gave denomination to
Openshaw, Blackbrook and Blackstakes, into Ashton-hurst and
Heaton-wood, and the large grove that winded along the bank of
the I^Iersey, and imparted the name of Hard-ey or Hardy to a
range of meadows upon it/^^
Chorlton was included in the lower bailiwick of the barony of
Manchester, and its tenants were required to contribute to the
maintenance of the lord's bailiff or sergeant and that of a boy, a
horse and four under-bailiffs, supplying to the chief sergeant, when
he shall come there, bread, ale, victuals and other things necessary,
according to the season ; and for his boy and the four under-
bailifPs such food as they are accustomed to provide in the house,
and provender for his horse, on notice of their coming.
The boundary-line euclosing the manor of Manchester passed
" between Stretford and Chollerton (which is a member of Withing-
ton) as far as Molsfrellach ; and following that as far as into
Withenton clou, and from thence going between Withenton clou
and Trafford as far as the bounds of Chorlton, and following that
between Chorlton and Trafford into Is Cornbrook."
In the 15 Edward III. (1341) a commission was issued granting
powers to certain individuals named therein to levy a ninth of
corn, wool and lambs in every parish according to the value upon
which churches were taxed (Pope Nicholas's Valor and Taxatio) if
the value of the ninth amounted to as much as the tax, and to
levy more where the true value of the ninth should be found to
1 Whitaker's History of Manchester^ vol. ii. p. Ill, second edition.
CHAPEL (H CIIOULTON. 243
exceed the tax. To gain correct information of these facts they
were directed to take inquisitions upon oath of the residents in
every parisli. This commission originated " in regard to the will
which the king their liege lord hath towards his subjects, and to
the great travailes that he hath made and sustained as well in his
wars of Scotland as against the parts of France and other places,
and to the good-will which he hath to travail to keep his realm and
maintain his wars and to purchase his rights. Having regard to
this they have granted to him the ninth lamb, the ninth fleece and
the ninth sheaf; and of cities and boroughs the ninth part of all
their goods and chattels." The commission met at Preston, and
the amount decreed to be paid by Chorlton was ten shillings. The
only other townships named in Manchester parish are Salford-cum-
Burghtoun (Broughton) lij^ Chetham x«, Hulm near INIanchester
xS Stretford xlvj^ viij^, Redyche lij^ iiijd ; exhibiting their relative
importance at that early period. The total tax upon :Manchester
was xxij marks (J14 13s. 4d.)^
The earliest of the landed proprietors in Chorlton of whom any
notice now remains was the fomily which hence derives its name.
In the 12 Stephen (1148) Gospatric de Chorlton granted lands in
Chorlton and Beswick to the Abbey of Cokersand.2 About a cen-
tury later we find the Abbot of Cokersand claiming in Cherlton
and Wythington the privilege of waifs, iufangenthef and the assize
of bread and ale, which was resisted by the officers of the crown,
and on being cited to substantiate his claim the evidence adduced
in its support being insufficient to satisfy the inquisitors, they
pronounced against him.^
By a deed undated but probably executed some time before
1290, Gospatric de Choreton gives to his brother Adam, "who
is about to fight for me against William son of Wulfrith de
AYithinton to secure my right to ray estate in Chorlton" (ad
salvand jus meu de Choreton), one eighth part of Chorlton. This
deed is witnessed by Robert de Burom, Henry de Chetham, Ralph
1 Nonarum Inquisitiones. ^ Kuerden's MSS. in the College of Arms.
3 PlacUa de Quo Warranto Rolls, fol. 379.
244 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
de Moston, Jordan le Norreys, Henry de Trafford, &c. In the
original, of wliich this is an abstract included in the Harl. MSS.
(cod. 2113, fo. 165), the bounds of the land so conveyed are
specified.
In the reign of Edward I. Gospatric de Chereleton held two
carucates of land in Cherleton as tenant in chief of the king, in
thanage, a service dating from Saxon times, and by the payment
of twenty shillings.^ Henry de Chetham held also in the same
reign four bovates of land direct from the king by the same service
and the payment of five shillings. ^ Matthew, son of William, is
also named as a tenant holding four bovates of the king by knight's
service. He claimed as having performed the stipulated service in
the war then brought to a close.^ William de Bothelton also held
one bovate from the king, his heir being in the king's custody.*
Adam de Chorleton also held from the aforesaid Gospatric two
bovates by the payment of forty-one pence. ^ In the Survey of the
manor of Manchester, taken 15 Edward II. (1322), it is stated that
Thomas de Chorlton has seven acres of heath-land in Green Lowe
Marsh in Gorton by a certain assize of novel disseisin, but it may
be leased as part of the land of the tenants. In the same return
the said Thomas is represented as holding a cottage in Ardwick
without rent on account of its being promised to be leased.
Scarcely inferior in antiquity of tenure were the Traffords of
Trafi'ord.
Henry de Trafford held five bovates of land in the township in
the reign of Edward I. by the payment of six shillings and three-
pence ;^ and an undated deed of perhaps a yet earlier period records
1 Gospatric de Chereleton tenj ij came' in Cherleton in capita de d'no Eege in
thanag' p' xx sol'. — Testa de Nevill, fol. 405.
- Henr. de Chetham teuj iiij borat' in capite de d'no Eege in thenagio p' v sol'. —
Ihid.
3 Math's fil. Will'i tenet de eodem iiij"'' bovat' quas disr'onavit p' fine Belli. — Ihid.
^ Will's de Bothelton tenuit unam bovat' in capite de d'no Eege in feodi firma
heres ej" est in custodia d'ni Eeg'. — Ibid.
* Adam de Chorleton tenet de ip'o Grospatric ij bovat' p' xlj den'. — Ibid.
6 Harl. MSS. 2112, fol. 137.
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 245
a grant from Gospatric dc Cherletoua to Henry, sou of Robert, son
of Ralph de TraflFord, of one fourth part of Chorlton, namely four
bovates of land with appurtenances; to wit two bovatcs which
Ranulph held, one borate which Steinulph held, and one bovate
which Robert, son of Edwin held, with all woods, plains, pas-
tures, clearings, mills, &c., and all liberties and easements to
that township belonging : to hold the same to himself and his heirs
from him, the said Gospatric and his heirs on payment of five shil-
lings per annum, namely fifteen pence at the Nativity, fifteen pence
at Easter, fifteen pence at the feast of John the Baptist, and fifteen
pence at the feast of St. Michael. This deed is witnessed by Roger
de Burun, Orm de Astun, Robert de Burun, Matthew de Redish,
William de Radclifi'e, Roger de INIiddleton, Adam de Buri, Gilbert
de Notona, William his son, Geofi"rey de Burun, Hugh de Stret-
ford, Alexander de Pilkinton, Matthew de Glothet, Hugh de
Soresworth and Robert his brother, Robert, son of Hugh de
Mascy, &c.i
The name of Henry de TrafFord occurs also in the rent-roll of
Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, dated 10 Edward II. (1316),2 as the
Earl's tenant for lands Avithin the township, paying annually a
rent of five shillings. Other tenants within the township were
Richard Pilkinton, who paid to the Earl twenty shillings, and
' Sciant omes &c. q** ego Gospat'cus do Cliereltona dedi &c. Ilenr. filio Kob. filii
Kad. de T'ford p' liomagio & scrvicio suo totam quartam partem de Cliereltona,
soil, quatuor bovatas t're cu o'ibj p'tiu, duas soil, q's Eanulf teuuit & una bovatam
q™ Steinnulf tenuit & una bovatam q™ Eob. fil. Edwini tenuit, in bosco & piano in pas.
& pascuis & in assartis in moleudinis & in o'ibj lib'tat'bj & aisiamentis ad eadem
villam spectantibj illi & bedibj suis teuendas de me et de meis beredbj ; aunuatim
inde reddendo qnq' solidos argenti scU. xv denar' ad uat. d'ni & xv denar' ad pasclia
& XV denar' ad fest beat. Jobis baptiste & xv denar' ad fest s'ci Michael. Hiis testibj
Eogo de Buron ; Orm de Astun ; Eob. burun ; Math'o de Eedich ; Will, de Eadecl. ;
Eogo de Middilton; Ada. deBuri; Gileb. de Notona; Will' mo fil. suo; Galfr. de
Burun; bug. de Stretford ; Alex, de Pilkintoua ; Math'o de Glothet ; hug. de Sores-
worth ; Eob'to fre suo ; Eob. fil. hugh de Masci & multis aliis. — Traffonl Evidences,
Lane. MSS., vol. xxv. p. 89. Seal — white paste, bearing a fleur-de-lis: legend —
"Sig De Chorltvn."
2 Earl. MSS. 2085, fol. 528.
246 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Richard de Byrom, whose lands were assessed at twenty-four
shillings.
From the rental of Thomas West, Lord De la Warre, dated
May 1, 1473, it appears that Henry TrafFord, son and heir of
Thomas TrafiFord, holds divers messuages with appurtenances in
Chorleton of the said lord in soccage, and grinds his corn at the
mill of ISIanchester, and pays a yearly rent of six shillings.
Bartrin TrafFord holds the other half of the two aforesaid mes-
suages of the said lord by the same service, and grinds his corn at
the said mill, and pays a yearly rent of three shillings and four-
pence. The same Henry Trafford holds a close called Gatecote-
fields of the said lord by the same service, and pays a yearly rent
of two shillings. In the 5 Henry VIII. (1513) Edmund Trafford,
as appears from an inquisition p.m. of that date, died seised of
lands in the township. Other inquisitions carry us down to the
close of the century. Sir Edmund Trafford 21 Henry VIII (1529),
Sir Edmund Trafford 6 Elizabeth (15G3) and Sir Edmund Trafford
32 Elizabeth (1589), all of whom retained their landed interest in
Chorlton.
In the 16 Henry VIII. (1524) Edmuud Trafford and others were
prosecuted in the Duchy Court by I\l argaret Bexwik widow, in
relation to a disputed title to houses and biggings [buildings],
lands, woods and appurtenances in Chorleton manor.
In the 33 Henry VIII. (1541) Margaret Trafford, widow of Sir
Edmund Trafford, enters an action in the same court against Ralph
Trafford and others for assault and forcible entry on a house called
"The Garrett" at Manchester and a mill at Chorleton.
In the 2 and 3 Philip and Mary (1554-5) the same premises form
the subject of litigation in a suit between Gilbert Gerard, Thomas
Leighe and Isabel his wife plaintiffs, and Sir Edmund Trafford
Knt., Henry Trafford clerk and others defendants ; the lands, &c.
in Chorlton are described as the Myllfeld close.
In the 9 Elizabeth (1566) Edmund Trafford and Nicholas
Langford submit to arbitration their respectively asserted claims
to the wastes of Didesbery, Withington and Chorleton. Seven
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 247
years later, in 1573, Edmund Trafford is defendant in a suit insti-
tuted against him by Thomas Leigh touching a certain messuage
and lands near Buttlers Lane and Trafforde jNIosse in Chorleton
manor.
The Traffords were possessed of large landed estates in Chorlton-
on-lNIedlock also, as well as in Chorltou-cum-Hardy; and, as in
the last-recited deeds the name given is simply Chorlton, the allu-
sion may possibly be to the former hamlet. This indeed seems
probable, especially in the deed which recites the claim of suit
urged by Thomas "West, Lord De la Warre, in respect of his corn-
mill in Manchester, since we find from an earlier deed that the
Chorlton-cum-Hardy tenants were under a similar obligation to
grind at their lord's mill at Didsbury. The deed in question is
undated, but was executed about the year 1280; it is endorsed,
" Tenants of Chollerton owe a rent to Didsbury Milne," and is to
the following effect : Sir Simon de Gousul, knight, releases &c. to
Henry de Trafford his heirs and assigns the homage of the said
Henry and his heirs, together with the several annual rents which
the said Henry owes for all the lands he holds of him in divers
places within the fee of Withington. He releases, moreover, and
quitclaims to the said Henry &c. the suit payable by his Chorlton
tenants, in respect of his (Sir Simon's) mill at Didsbury, all ser-
vices, exactions &c., of what nature soever, to which the said
Henry might be liable, — the said Henry rendering homage there-
for to the chief lord of ]Mauchester, and paying to him yearly at
the feast of St. Michael one pair of gloves and one penny.^
1 O'ibJ Xpi &c. Symon de Gousul miles salutem iu d'no. Xoveritis me remisisse
&c. Heurico de Trafford et hedj siiis & ass' homag' d'cti Hem-. & hered' suor' una
cum totu redditu q™ idem Hem-ic. michi. redde debet & assuet' annuat' p' o'ibj tevria
& tenem suis q' de me tenuit in locis diversis in feodo de Withinton. Remisi insuper
& omniuo quiete clam' eidem Hen'co &c sectam molendini mei in Didisburi
de om'ibj homiuibj suis de Chollertou & emendacou rcparacou & facturam stang™
p'd'ci molendini & omnimodo scryicia exaccones &c. noiatas & non noiatas in quibj
d'ct' Henr. &c. ; faciendo in homagiu d'no capital! Mancestr' et redd' ei ann' ad fest
S. Mich, unu par chyrocer' et unu denar' p' o'bj serv' &c, Hiis testibj D'no Galfr'o
de Bracebrigg milit ; Galfr. de Chaderton : Ric'o de Radeclive ; Ric'o de Moston :
248 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Another of the more ancient proprietors was Eiias Entwisell of
Entwisell manor near Bolton, who, as appears from the rental of
Thomas Lord De la Warre, held in 1473 one messuage with appur-
tenances, in Chorleton, of the said lord in soccage and by a yearly
rent of three shiUings and fourpence. Edmund Entwisell who
died 36 Henry YIII. (1544) was seised at his death of the
messuage, &c. in question, which, at a later period (1576), was
litigated by Edward Tildesley and Alexander Entwysell.
Other land-owners were Edward Tildesley Esq., only sou of Thur-
stan Tildesley of Tildesley Esq. by his second wife Jane, daughter of
Ralph Langton, Baron of Newton, whose inquisition p. m. is dated
29 Ehzabeth (1586), — and Gregorie Lovell, described as cofferer to
the queen's household, who in the 36 Elizabeth (1593) claimed by
conveyance from Sir Edmund Trafibrd messuages and lands on
Chowerton moor. In the 41 Ehzabeth (1598) Sir Robert Lovell
Knight, eldest sou of the above-mentioned Gregorie, claiming by
inheritance, maintains his right to certain lands, &c., in the town-
ship against John Trafford, Roger Dudill and others.
In this same year the exclusive right of digging " marie clodds
and turves on Chowreton more" was asserted by Nicholas Lange-
ford, who, by an action at Lancaster, sought to protect himself
against William Barlowe, James Brownehill, Laurence Baguley,
Edmund Hunte and Richard Chorlton, who claimed participation.
The manorial rights of Withington (including Chorlton) appear to
have passed about this time to the Mosley family.
In the 43 Elizabeth (1600) Rowland Mosley Esq. as " Lord of
the Manors of Didsburye and Wythington" prosecutes Alexander
Barlow Esq., a " charterer and freeholder," for incroachments on
divers parcels of the common and waste grounds called Dids-
burye moor and Chorlton, otherwise Chollerton moor, a capital
messuage called Barlowe Hall and the demesne lands called " The
Henbutts."
Eob'to de Shorisworth ; Jordano de Crompton et multis aliis. — Trafford Evidences,
Lane. MSS. vol. xxv. p. 87. Seal — green wax very perfect ; legend — " Sigil
Joli'is(?) De Gousil."
OHAPEL OF CIIORLTON. 249
Sir Nicholas Mosley Knt., who died in 1614, and Rowland
Moslcy Esq. his son, who died in 16] 7, were both seised of lands
in Chorlton township.
A portion of the township received the name of Barlow at a very-
early period, which designation is thought by Whitaker to mark
the locality as a favoured haunt of the wild boar at a time when
animals of chase overspread the country not yet disafforested.
"The wild bull,^' he says, "had its residence in our Mancunian
Arden, and even continued in one part of the thickets of Blackley
as late as the fourteenth century ; and the boar roving at liberty over
the woods of the parish for many centuries after the Roman
departure from the station consigned the appellation of Barlow or
the Boar-ground to a district in the south-westerly parts of it."^
From this neighbourhood a family of considerable note and of
long association with the township took its name. Barlow Hall
was the residence of Sir Robert de Barlow in the reign of Edward I.
By an undated deed Alexander, son of William Albinus of Sale,
grants to Thomas de Barlow all his lands, &c., in Barlow. This
deed is witnessed by Geoffrey de Chetham, Richard de Trafford,
William de Heton, William de Diddesbury, Richard de Chollerton,
and others. By a second deed, also without date, Amicia, daughter
of Roger de Barlow, gives to Roger, son of Thomas de Barlow,
half a bovate of land in Barlow, the same which her father gave to
her at her marriage.
Another deed of a similar date with the last conveys on the part of
Alexander, minister (eapellanus) of Didsbury, to the above-named
Roger de Barlow the elder all his lands in Barlow, Chollerton,
Harday in Withington, together with a water-mill there situated,
with remainder to Thomas, son of Roger de Barlow and INIarion
his wife, &c.
In the 10 Edward III. (1336) a cause was decided at York, as
it might seem, the deed in which it is recorded issuing from that
city, between Roger de Barlow the elder, querent, and Robert de
Cattelow chaplain, deforcient, of the manor of Barlow, and of five
' Whitaker's History of Matichesier, rol. ii. p. 115, second edition.
K K
250 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
messuages, fifty acres of land, six acres of meadow with their
appurtenances in Chollerton, and half the manor of Chollerton,
&c. The deed confirms to the said Roger the possession of the
lands in question for his life, with remainder to Roger his son and
Agnes his son's wife, and to Roger, son of the said Roger and
Agnes, and his heirs male, with remainder to Thurstan, brother of
the aforesaid Henry [sic], with remainder to Thomas, son of
Roger de Barlow the elder, yviih remainder to the right heirs of
the said Roger Barlow the elder.
By a certificate from Lichfield, bearing date 1397, it is evidenced
that Thomas de Barlow was sole and exclusive lord of Barlow, and
that his father's name was Robert de Barlow ; that the said Thomas
had two sons, of whom the elder was named Roger and the younger
Thomas ; that the said Roger became in turn sole lord of Barlow
after the decease of his father ; and that he had a son by name
Roger, who succeeded his father as lord of Barlow.
In the 14 Richard II. (1390) Robert Collayn gave to John, son
of Roger de Barlow, for the term of his Hfe all his messuages,
lands, &c., in Barlow, Chollerton, &c., with remainder to John, son
of John and the heirs of the body of the said John the younger
and Joan, daughter of Richard de Holland. This deed is witnessed
by John de Radcliff'e de Chaderton, Adam de Lever jun., Richard
de Redish, James de Barlow. John Barlow the younger was one
of the inhabitants of Manchester parish summoned in 1422 by
the sound of the bell to assemble for the purpose of expressing
their concurrence in the proposal of Thomas De la Warre to
found a Collegiate Church in Manchester. i
A marriage-covenant between Richard de Ashton de Mersey
Bank and Nicholas, son of John de Barlow;— Alexander, son and
heir of the said Nicholas, to marry Ehzabeth, daughter of the said
Richard. The covenant is dated 13 Henry VI. (1434). In the
29 Henry VI. (1450) Nicholas, son of John de Barlow, and
Alexander his son lease to George Barlow for the term of four
years a certain close in Barlow; and in the 6 Edward IV. (1466)
^ HoUingworth's Manctiniensis, p. 40.
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 251
he tlie said Niclioliis conveys to his son Alexander all his lauds,
&c., iu Withington and elsewhere in Lancashire, formerly belong-
ino; to John de Barlow, father of tlie aforesaid Nicholas.
In the 18 Edward IV. (1478) Alexander, son and heir of
Nicholas Barlow, conveys on trust to John Radcliffe of Radcliflfe
and Thurstan Tildesley Esquires, James Hill, rector of Northenden,
and Ralph Ashton, rector of Ashton, his manor of Barlow.^ His
1 These several particulars are derived from abstracts of family deeds included in
the Sari. MSS. 2112, fol. 172-174.
Ex cartis Alexi Barlow de Barlow ar" Ap. 1653.
Fol. 172. Ego Alex. f. W Albini de Sale dedi Tho. de Barlow tot. t'ram meii &c.
in vil. de Barlow &c. Test. Duo G. de Chetham ; Eico de Trafford ; W° de Heton ;
W° Diddesburj ; Rico de Chollerton & al'. s. d.
Ego W^ f. Rob. de Aynsworth dedi Rogo f. Tho. de Barlow 1 bo t'rrc in Aynsworth
&c. Test. Galfr. de Chetham ; Rob. de Hulton ; W» de Heton ; Rob. de Redish ;
Rico de Trafford ; Hug. de Trafford &c. s. d.
Ego Sybilla f. Uctredi & Marg** dedi Tho. de Barlow & hered' suis tot. t'ram mea in
Barlow. Test. Rob. de Burun ; Math. Redig.; Jordano Norewe ; Hug. de Stretford;
W de Chollerton. s. d.
Ego Amicia f. Rogi de Barlow dedi Rog. f. Tho. de Barlow dim. bo free in Barlow
&c. q p'r mens dedit mihi in lib. mar. Test. Galfr. de Chetham; Ric. de Trafford;
W Norhais ; Rog. de Pilkinton ; Rob. de Astona ; Tho. de Prestwich &c. s. d.
Amisia f. Rogi de Barlow cfnd. ux' Ham. de Barlow dedi Tho. de Barlow & hered'
Buis tot. jus. in Barlow. Test. Dno Galfr. de Chetham &c. s. d.
Ego Alex, cap'"' de Didsbmy dedi Rog. de Barlow sen. tot. t'ram meil m Barlow,
Chollerton, Harday in vil. de Withinton simul cu molend. aquatic, in ead. vil. rem.
Tho. f. Rogi de Barlow & Mariori uxi ejus &c. Test. Rico de Hulton; Rico de
Workeslegh ; Rob. de Aston ; Tho. de Hulme ; Ric. de Valentina & al'. s. d.
Roger Barlow & Mag'r. Ricus de Trafford rector de Chedle 14 Edw. II.
Rog. f. Rog. de Barlow assignat Alicine q fuit ux' Rogi de Barlow p'ris sui &c. in
Barlow, Chollerton & Hardy. Dat. 13 Edw. III.
Rog. de Barlow sen. dedi Duo Rob. de Cattelow cap'" oia man. ter. ten. &c. mea in
Barlow &c. 7 Edw. III.
Int. Rog. de Barlow sen. quer. & Rob. de Cattelow cap™ def. de m. de Barlow ac.
5 mess., 50 acr. free, G a p'ti cu p'tinen. iu Chollerton & dim. m. de Chollerton &c. ;
h'end eid. Rog. &c. pro vita ; rem. Rogo f. ejusd. Rogi & Aguet' ux' ejus & Rogo f.
eord. Rog! & Agnet' & hser. masc. ip'ius Rogi fil. eord. Rogi & Aguet' & ha?d. masc. ;
rem. Thurstano fr'i ejusd. Hener. [sic] ; rem. Tho. f. Rogi de Barlow sen. ; rem. r'cis
hered' d'ci Rogi Barlow sen. Dat. ap'' Ebor. 10 Edw. III.
Fol. 173. Rog. de Barlow f. Rogi do Barlow dedi Rogo f. Rob. de Barlow & heed.
tot. jus. in Barlow. Test. Jo de Burun ; Rog'o de Midleton ; W de Hopwood ; Ad.
de Prestwich & al'. s. d.
252 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
son and successor, Eoger, lived in the reign of Henry VII. He
married a daughter of Ellis Prestwicli of Hulme Esq. and dying
Margareta f. TLo. f. Rogi de Barlow remis Rogo cle Barlow avunculo meo & liered'
suis tot. jus. meu iu m de Barlow, Chollerton &c. Test. Rob. de Trafford ; Tho. de
Hulme &c. 17 Edw. III.
In Dei noie Amen, 1397. A certificate of Lichfield : Q'dem Tho. de Barlow qui tunc
erat integer D'nus de Barlow cujus t° Tho. pater appcllabatur Rob. de Barlow & p'fat
Tho. sic existens integer D'n's de Barlow huit 2 fiUos quor Rog. erat fil. suus primo-
genit. ; 2''^' erat Tho. fil. suus postea natus & sic autem id. Rogus erat integer D'nus
de Barlow p't decessu p'd'ci Tho. p'ris sui & p'fat Rogus huit quend. iil. noie Rog. q
p't decessu p'oris Rogi p'ris sui erat integer Dufis ejusd. vil. de Barlow &c.
O'ibj &c. Marg"" f. Rogi de Barlow remis Rog'o de Barlow avtmculo meo & hered
suis tot. jus. in m de Barlow &c. Dat. 1339.
Ego Rob. CoUayn dedi Johi f. Rogi de Barlow ad vitam oia mess. terr. &c. in
Barlow, Chollerton &c. ; rem. Johi f. Johis & hser. de corpe ip'ius Johis f. Joh'se f.
Rici de Holland. Test. Jo de Radcliflc de Chadertou ; Ad. de Lever jun. ; Rico de
Redisli ; Jac. de Barlow. 14 Ric. II.
Ego Hudd. de Barlow dedi W" fil' meo oia terr. & ten. &c. in Halghton &
Wythiutou, rem. Johi f. Rogi de Barlow &c. 2 Hen. IV.
Ego Hugo de Barlow remis Jo de Barlow sen. tot. jus. in Barlow. 9 Hen. IV.
Ego Nich'us de Prestwich cap'"' dedi Margeria; de Barlow ad vitam 2 burg' iu
Man"" q' hui ex douo p'dcaj Margerise ; rem. Jo f. Rogi de Barlow. Dat. ap"" Man''
22 Ric. II.
Fol. 174. Jo de Barlow de Barlow ; Radus de Prestwich. 7 Hen. VI.
Joh'es Duiis de Barlow. 2 Hen. IV.
Ego Jo Wighull civis Ebor. dedi Johi de Barlow jun. oia terr. mea in Bowkegdato
& in le Mersh de Nottmgham. 4 Hen. VI.
Ego Jo Barlow f. Johis Barlow sen. dedi Robto' Honford ar° & Jac. Hull rect.
cccliEe de Northerdene oia man. mess. &c. in Halghton. 36 Hen. VI.
Endent' ent' Rich, de Ashton de Mersey Bank & Nichol' f. Jo de Barlow. Alisand
f. & h. du dit Nichol' a marrier a Eliz. filie de dit Rich. s. d.
NichoL fil. Jo de Barlow & Alex. f. ejus cone. Georgio Barlow q'dda campu in
Barlow ad term 4 anuor. 4 Jul. 29 Hen. VI.
Ind. 18 Aug. 30 Hen. VI. I. Nichol. Barlow s. & h. of Jenkin Barlow of Barlow
& Amies his wife joyutly betaken & to ferme to George Barlow of Chollerton & to
Rich. Barlow p'cell of land &c. for 5 years after the decease of y^ said Jenkin Barlow
of Barlow.
Ego Nicholl. Barlow dedi Alexo Barlow f. meo oia ten. terr. &c. q' nup' fuer Jo de
Barlow p'ris mei in Withiugton seu alibi in co. Lane. 3 Dec. 6 Edward IV.
Ego Alex. Barlow f. & h. Nich. Barlow dedi &c. Johi Radcliffe de RadcMe,
Thurstauo Tildesley ar. J ac Hill rect. de Northerden, Rani. Ashton rect. de Ashton
maner' meu de Barlow, &c. 18 Edw. IV.
Alex. Barlow de Barlow 5 February, 1557.
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 253
seised of the Barlow estate transmitted it to his son, Ellis Barlow,
so named after his maternal grandfather. Ellis Barlow married
Anne, daughter of Otes lleddish of Reddish Esq., and had issue a
son, Alexander his successor, and a daughter, Margaret wife of
Edward Stanley, third Earl of Dcrhy.
The Barlow family at the time of the Reformation remained
steadfast in their adherence to the old creed, refusing to embrace
the reformed faith which England as a nation then adopted. They
were blind to the corruptions which in successive ages had crept
into the purer doctrine of their forefathers, and when Elizabeth
attempted by penal enactments, somewhat rigorously enforced, to
carry out the Protestant principles of the lleformation, which
under her sister and predecessor had been threatened with extinc-
tion, much suffering awaited all who refused to conform.
Alexander Barlow Esq. seems to have been the first member
of his family called upon to suffer persecution for the sake of his
religion. Dr. Bridgewater in his Concertatio, quoted by Dr. Ohal-
loner,^ informs us that in the year 1584 no less than fifty Roman
Catholic gentlemen's houses in Lancashire were searched in one
night under pretence of looking for priests, but so as to send
away the masters to divers prisons, where they suffered great hard-
ships for their faith. He mentions particularly Mr. Travers, Mr.
Holland, and Mr. Barlow, the last of whom was at that time so
ill as not to be able to sit upon his horse, yet this could not save
him from being sent to prison. He was taken in the first instance
to Manchester, whence he was almost immediately removed to the
seat of a gentleman of the same county whose name is not re-
corded, and there he died in August 1584. He was buried in
Didsbury Chapel on the 26th of that month. It is related of his
custodian that he himself afterwards embraced the Roman Catholic
religion. Alexander Barlow Esq. was elected representative for
Wigan in the first parliament assembled by King Edward VI. in
the first year of his reign 1547, and continued to represent the
same constituency uninterruptedly throughout the reign of Ed-
' Missionary Priests, pp. 83-84.
254 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
ward, and through the first four parliaments in the reign of Queen
Mary, his successor, until the year 1557.' He married EHzabeth,
daughter and coheiress of George Legh of Manchester, a younger
branch of Legh of High Legh, and by her had one son bearing
the same name with his father, and several daughters. Other ac-
counts represent him as contracting a second marriage with Mary,
daughter of Sir Urian Brereton, and as having issue by her a
numerous family, one of his sons by this second marriage being
William Barlow, afterwards Bishop of Lincoln ; but this assertion
is full of improbabilities. In the certified pedigree of the family,
Mary, daughter of Sir Urian Brereton, is described as being the
wife of his eldest son Alexander. But what is conclusive of the
whole matter is the simple fact that his wife Elizabeth Legh only
pre-deceased her husband by the short space of eight months, and
therefore no such marriage could have taken place, husband and
wife dying respectively December 26, 1583, and August 26, 1584,
both being interred at Didsbury.
In the Stanley Papers, part ii., p. 213 (Chetham Society's
pubhcations) the paternity of Bishop William Barlow is assigned
to Sir Alexander Barlow, eldest son of the above first-mentioned
Alexander, but this statement also meets with a ready disproof,
the close approximation of their ages being irreconcileable with
such aflanity, the knight being born in 1558 and the bishop,
according to his biographers, " about the middle of the sixteenth
century."
That Bishop Barlow was descended from this family, and that
too in a degree not very remote, has never been questioned, but it
is difficult to establish the precise connexion. Wood {Faat'i Oxon.
p. 786) asserts that he "was born of, and descended from, the
ancient and gentile family of the Barlows of Barlow in Lancashire,"
a statement which Baiues repeats {History of Lancashire, vol. ii.
p. 360) ; Chalmers, too (Biographical Dictionary, vol. iii. p. 487),
gives Lancashire as the place of his birth. He was brought uj) in
the family of Dr. Cosin, Dean of the Arches, and it is not unrca-
' Browu Willis's Notitia Farliamentaria, Loudon, 1750.
CHAPEL OF CIIORLTON. 255
sonablc to suppose that having renounced the faith of his ancestors
he had become an outcast from his father's house. In 1580 he
was entered by Ur. Cosin as a student at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. ^
In 1584 he graduated in Arts, having previously removed to St.
John's College. In 1587 he proceeded to the degree of M.A., and
in 1590 was elected Fellow of Trinity Hall.^ In 1597 he was
created D.D., and resigned his fellowship on being collated by
Archbishop AYhitgift to the rectory of Orpington in the county of
Kent. He was at this time chaplain to the archbishop, and soon
afterwards received a similar appointment from the Queen. He
became also Rector of St. Dunstan's in the East on the presentation
of his former patron the archbishop, and also a Prebendary of St.
Paul's. In 1601 he was installed Prebendary of Westminster, and
the year following Dean of Chester. In 1603 he was selected by
Archbishop Whitgift to draw up a narrative of the then recent and
famous Conference held at Hampton Court, before King James,
January 14, 15, 16, 1603, on the subject of episcopacy. In 1605
he became a Prebendary of Canterbury, and in the same year was
raised to the bench as Bishop of Rochester, over which see he
continued to preside for the space of three years, when he was
translated to Lincoln May 21, 1608. He died suddenly at his
palace at Buckden September 7, 1613, and was buried in the
chancel of that church. He had the reputation of great learning,
and was chosen one of the translators of the Bible. He pubhshed
a life of Dr. Richard Cosin, his early patron ; a narrative of the
Hampton Court Conference ; and several sermons. His will, dated
April 6, 1612, and proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury,
is as follows : —
1 Reference has been made to the College Register of entries, with a view to ascer-
tain, if possible, from that source the parentage of Bishop Barlow, but without
success. Unfortunately the names of parents were not inserted in the Registers of
that College until after the year 1650.
2 Baines gives 1587 as the date of his election to a Fellowship, but incon-ectly, as
appears from a reference to the College Books.
256 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Will of Bishop Barlow.
Aprilis 6, 1612^ beyng Monday in ye morninge.
In the name of God amen. I William Barlowe Bishop of
Lincolne, most unworthie of that honoure, uufeynedlie I speak yt,
beyng in perfect health of bodye and strengthe of memorye, do
make and ordayne this my last will and testament inviolablie to
stand unlesse that hereafter I doe nppon juste occasion under myn
owne hande revoke yt, for the chaunges of tymes are in the power
of the mightie God unto whose mercifull handes and grace
thoroughe Christe Jesus my blessed Savyoure I doe in all
humilitie and earnestness first bequeathe and commend my soule
so deerlie boughte with the precious bloud of that immaculate
lambe the eternall Sonne of God incarnate that he mighte dye
and dying that he mighte make mankynd to live, most humblie
beseeching that most gracious father for his owne mercys sake
and the blessed Sonne for his deathe and passion sake to pardon
the mannifould synnes of this my transgressing soule too muche
taynted by the bodyes contagion and connection therewith, and to
cast them all behinde his backe never to remember them either
for my confusion in this life or my condempnation in the worlde
to come, of whiche grace I have the more comfortable assurance
because renounceing whatsoever is in my selfe I doe onely relye
uppon all the sufficient meritts of my Lorde and Savioure Jesus
Christe w^'^out whose grace alone I were a most forlorne, distressed
and miserable wretche ; requesting alsoe cache person whome I
have at any tyme in my lyfe by word or deede ofiended hartelye
to forgive me as I doe unfeynedlye remitt all offences done to me.
As for my bodye, as yt ys in ytself a sacke of filthe and lumpe of
fleshe, the prison of my soule, I little regard yt, but as beyng of
God's frame and the vouchsafed tenement of the Holie Ghoste an
honorable vessel, I bequeathe yt to Christians and Christian buryall
to be reposed amonge the neerest of kynne unto yt, y* is wormes
and corruption, and to be interred in my Cathedrall Churche yf I
dye neere yt, or in the Collegiat Churche of Westmynster yf there
I dye, otherwise in the nexte parish churche to my dwelling house
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 257
wheresoever yt shalbe that my soule leaveth my bodie. And for
my temporall goodcs wherewith God hath ben pleased to blesse
me, and truste I maye saye tridie so, for in them there is neither
bryberie, symonye nor sicophaneye, I doe bestowe them in manner
and forme followeing : First, unto her whome I chose for my
comforte, Mrs. Johane Barlowe, the assoeiat of my bourd and bed
(of whose bodye alone and by noe other woman in the worlde I
begatt all the children which I either have or had), I doe bequeathe
and will in reeompence of the twoe hundred poundes whiche she
broughte me for her dowrye to be payed her presently after my
buryall or funerall (yf there be any) in readye money, twoe
thowsand poundes sterling, conditionally that she offer no disturb-
ance to myn exeeutours which shalbe named hereafter, nor give
any ympeachement to this my last will and testament, nor yf she
asperge me or my caling with any reproehefull or contumelious
termes after my decease ; for the better performance whereof I
will that the money shall not be payed unto her before that she
with twoe suflficient sewerties doe enter into bond imto myne
exeeutours and theire assignes so to staye her selfe and allso to be
bound to make good unto her daughters one thowsand poundes,
into which covennts yf she will not enter, then my resolucon is
and so I will that she shall have but one thowsand poundes in all,
and the other thowsand poundes to be equallie divided besydes
theire porcons hereinunder named betwene my twoe daughters
Alyce Barlowe and Jane Barlowe : This eondicon may seeme to
some very hard and in a dying husband very uncharritable, but
the reason thereof God knoweth and I hope alloweth, and so do
they whoe have iyved neere unto us ; I am sure yt can savour of
noe revenge seeyng the whole portion (all circumstances beyng
well considered) is a very fayer one (yf she can have the grace to
be content therwith as I praye God she maye), and little can she
doe yf she cannot afforde me goode wordes for yt. Item unto my
eldest daughter Alice Barlowe I doe bequeathe one thowsand
poundes; and to my yongest daughter Jaine Barlowe one other
thowsand poundes allso, besides the divident of the one thowsand
L L
258 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
poundes beforenamed (yf tlieire mother be so ill advised as to
refuse yt uppon the condition specified), which severall sommes of
one thowsand poundes apeece to my daughters I doe will to be put
into the custodye of the Worshipfull Company e and Societie of the
Fishmongers in London, earnestlie requesting theym to take yt
into theire handes to ymploye yt for the best benefitt and behoofe
of the twoe poore orphanes, the manner whereof because I will not
burthen my will therewith, I have set downe in a paper by yt selfe
that they may see yt and allowe yt. Item unto my sister Katha-
rine, the wife of Thomas Johnson, Fishmonger, I do bequeathe the
somme of one hundred and fiftie poundes conditionally that her
husband and she enter into bond, or she alone (yf at my death she
be widowe) to leave unto her sonne William Johnson one hundred
pounds thereof after her deathe (yf he survive her) unlesse that he
will be so kynde as to release her therof yf that he be otherwise
provided and be made able to lyve of hym selfe before my death.
Item I bequeathe unto William Orwell, my gentleman-usher (yf
he be in my service or belonginge unto me at the tyme of my
deathe) twentie poundes to be payed him p^ntly after my bury all
and funerall (yf there be any made for me) and he be present at
them bothe or at the last especiallie. Item I give unto George
Knellen my clarke of my kytchen, beside the patent of the parke
and the housekeeping which with my money I redeemed for hym,
twentie poundes in money to be payed as above is specyfied in the
legacy to Mr. WilUam Orwell. Item I do give and bequeathe
unto my faithfull servannte John Balden (for whome I have yet
done nothing) the summe of twentie poundes, to be payed as to the
parties beforenamed is mentioned, and upon that condicon that yf
he be then in my service and present at my interring and funerall.
Item I give and bequeathe unto the under officers, butler, cooke,
wardrober and brewer, fiftie shillinges apeece yf those parties be
in my house, whiche nowe at the date hereof have those places,
otherwise not. For yf any or all of them be gone, then I will that
theire partes be given in almes to the poore prisoners in the gaole
in Huntingdon, by twentie shillinges a quarter soe long as the
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 259
same will laste. Item I give unto Stephen Barrye whoe was
broughte up from a cbildc in ray howse (yf he be not my cooke)
fyvc pounds ; yf that he be, then fiftic sbillinges more then the
other fiftie sbillinges before, to make it up fyve poundes. Item I
give and bequeathe unto the Societie of the Fishmongers in
London the somnie of fower score poundes, to be ymployed in the
same and noe other manner then as the Icgacey whieh they had of
my loveing mother jNIrs, Alice Feild is used, for the bencfitt of
fower poore men in theire company, by them selves to be named,
whereof Thomas Philipps to be one soe longe as he liveth, and the
encrease to be geven unto the poore of the parishe where my
mother hath allotted hers, conditionallie that they accept of my
doughters portions in that forme which shalbe prescribed. And
yf yt happen that either of the maydens dye before they be
marryed, then my will is that the portion of her so deceased shalbe
ymployed in the fownding of soe many or fewer of Bachellors and
Fellowes in Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge (whereof I was
once an unworthie member) as the master and senior the tyme
beyng shall thincke meete, which shalbe called by the name of
the Fishmongers Fellowes and Schollers of Bishopp Barlowe his
foundacon. Or yf the companye do refuse to meddle with the
child reus portions then I doe requyre myne executors to make
suite unto the Chaumber of London to take yt uppon those con-
dicons. And yf either of the wenches dye before theire marriage,
the portion of the deceased to pass unto the colledge as above ys
mentioned, and they to be named London Fellowes and Schollers
of Bishop Barlowes Foundation. Now for my plate, I doe give
and bequeathe unto the Companye of Fishmongers my greate
standyng eupp dubble guilte, covered and engraven with the hartes
of men flaming rounde aboute yt (yf tliey take my doughters
portions and soe ymploye them), and conditionallye that uppon
everie of theire Masters feastes dayes they make yt theire grace
cupp and put yt into the handes of the prineipall guest present to
begynne in solerapne manner to the rest ; yf they refuse yt then I
give yt to Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge at theire feastes to
360 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
be presented at tlie table after grace. Item I give unto Trinitie
Hall in Cambridge my next tall standing cupp dubble guilte and
covered with a case wherin yt ys placed^ to be at tlieire feastes in
like manner presented. Item unto my man Simon Bibie I do
give one of my silver standislies, chuse whiclie of them be will.
Item I give unto George Knellen my dubble silver bell salte and
one of the deepe silver bolls which are commonly used for beere.
Item I give unto John Cobden my lesser duble guilte salte graven
and covered, with a man on the topp bearing a speare and target,
which was once my mothers, and allso the lesser of my trencher
saltes duble guilte made triangle wise, and also one other of the
deepe silver holies used daylie for beere. The rest of my plate
unbequeathed I will to be devided into fower partes by the weighte,
and my bedfellowe to take one parte for her share. The other
three partes my twoe daughters to devide betweene them, whiche I
will to be committed unto some honest bodyes truste uppon landes
to myne executors for the saffe delivery unto the girles when they
come to age or marriage respectively. Item I give and bequeathe
unto Mrs. Johaue Barlowe, my wife, the bedsteed with all the
ymplements of silke belonginge thereunto, with the bedding and
whole furniture whereuppon we usuallie lye, and is placed in oure
bedchamber which we nightelie use ; and allsoe y*^ arras coverlett
which was not my mothers, for that I will that Alice shall have.
Item I give unto my saied wife three liverye bedds and bedsteads
whollie furnished as they stand at Westminster in myne house
there. Item I give unto George Kenn that bedding which he
hath of myne allreadie. Item I give unto John Cobden the bed-
stead, bed, blanketts, pillowe, bolster and mattresse which standeth
in my bedchamber at Westminster whereon I lye myselfe, and one
payer of flaxen sheetes. The sute of lynnen damasked whiche I
boughte and is marked mth A. B. 1 give yt to Alice Barlowe my
daughter. The rest of my lynnen I wille to be sorted into three
partes to be equallie devided betweene my wife and my twoe
daughters. Item I give unto William Orwell, yf he then attend
me, his choice of any guelding in my stable that trotteth. Item
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 261
unto John Cobden one gelding that acomblcth, to be appoynted
unto liym by my executors. Item unto my wife twoe gucld-
ings of her owne choise, yf she will have any, and the use of
twoe coache horses and the use of my coache for one quarter
of a yere after my decease (yf she will undertake to keep them
well and safe). Item I bequeath unto Trinitie Plall in Cambridge
the Bible of Arius Montanus in eight volumes folio. Item the
Councels sett out by Binnius in fyve volumes folio. Item the
whole Civill course of the latter edition in six volumes folio. Item
Plato in twoe volumes folio Greeke and Lattyn; all w'^^* I will to
be placed in theire librarye uppon one deske by themselves^ and
the name of the donor to be set on the front of the deske. The
reste of my bookes unbequeathed I give unto AVilliam Johnson
my sisters sonne uppon condition that he be a scholler at my
deathe ; and yf while he lyve unlesse yt be uppon greate wante he
sell any one of the folio bookes or give anye awaye which he hath
not duble, he shall forfeyt all the rest to my executors, and
they shall sell them to the benefitt of my twoe children, or yf
he refuse them uppon the condicon specified. The rest of myne
horses, hanginges, beddinges, furniture, stocke and househould
stuflte of what nature soever y* is not bequeathed I will my
twoe daughters to take their choise of, yf there be enoughe
to defraye succeeding chardges, and the rest to be sould, and
after my funerall (which I would have decent, frugall and
without pompous ceremonyes) and other necessary chardges
and payments passed, I will to be devided equallie betweene
my sayed twoe doughters. And I doe hereby constitute and
appoynte my trustie and well beloved Mr. Christofer Wyvell,
Chauncellor of Lincolne, and Mr. Thomas Taylor, Bachellor of
Lawes, ray present steward, to be joynt executors of this my last
will and testament, requesting them to take this last paynes for
me whoe have ever loved them well, and shall never see them
agayne here, and to see that my children be well broughte up in the
feare of God and good nourture withou.e vanitie and dissolutnes;
and to cache of them I doe bequeathe twentie poundes apeece
262 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
clearlie besides all their chardges, hoping they shall be no losers
by this chardge undertaking. And yf they finde that I have over-
chardged my will, then I forbidd them to make any funerall for
me, but onely to erect for me in the place where I am buryed
suche a monument and no other as Doctor Goode nowe Deane of
Westminster hath set up for hymselfe in the churche of West-
minster. Item I do appoynt overseers of this my will Doctor
Morison, Commissarye of Huntingdon, and Mr. Simon Bibye, to
eache of whome I bequeathe fyve poundes apeece to put into a
gould rynge, requesting them to have a tender eye even for God's
sake to the bringing up of my twoe daughters. And thus having
set in order my temporall estate which is not very grate, my
mynde is much quieted, and I beseeche Almightie God for His
Sonne Jesus Christs sake to give me grace that I maye bestowe
the rest of my dayes whiche I have to lyve in setling of my soules
estate for Heaven, the end of my hope and the purchase of my
Savyours deere bloud, with whome that I may eternally lyve I do
most earnestlie praye, and to whome alone for all His blessings I
do ascribe all honor and glorye for ever and ever. Scripsi mea
manu die et anno predictis. W. Lyncolne.
To my funerall I allott twoe hundred pounds and noe more
except my executors and overseers doe see that more may be
spared, in this manner to be ordered : — To tenne poore olde men
eache of them a gowne of fortie shillinges price. To my wife,
children, sister and other of my consanguinitie and familye no
women of either or retayners for gownes and cloakes,
one hundred and foitie poundes. For doale to the poore that daye
fyve poundes in bread and money. Item I give unto the Company
of Fishmongers one hundred pounds to be put by them into the
handes of fower poore young men of that Companye whoe shall
from tyme to tyme be named and appoynted by the alderman (yf
there be any) of that societie with the Maister and twoe cheife
Wardens, or yf there be no alderman, by the Maister and principall
Warden for the tyme beyng, conditionalHe that none shall have yt
above twoe yeres together, and that they shall paye unto the
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 263
Companye for the use of that hundred poundes every yeare three
poundcs, amonge the whiche three poundes shalbe then distributed
for the hospitall in Croydon in the countie of Surrey founded by
my ]\Ir. Arehb. Whitegifte in this manor, — 13* 4*^ for one y* is a
preacher licensed to preach in the p'she churche there yearly a
sermon on the 22nd of March beinge the daye on w*=^ the hospitall
was founded, in w*^^ he shall make hon'^^*^ mencon of y* most revend
palate Archb. Whitgift his person and action, — 13^ 4 whole goodes. Also,
my will and mj-nde is that my deare and loveinge wyfe shall have
her full and due threed [third] pte (and that in favourable manore)
of all the reste of the sayd goodes ; and moreover my will ys that
shee shall have the longe wrought quishen clothe edged aboute
■wth goulde lace. Also, I geve and my will and mynde is that my
Sonne Allexander shall have a peece of goulde of towe and twenty
shillinges. Also I geve to my loveinge sonne in lawe John
Talbotte Esquiere the like somrae of xxij^ in goulde. Also I geve
unto my daughter Margreate Talbotte one peece of goulde of
eleaven shillinges. Also I geve unto my sonne George twentye
shillinges. Also to my sonne Robarte one cloake clothe of the
same pryce. Also I geve unto my daughter flPrauncis fortye
shillinges towardes byeingc her a blacke gowne. Also I geve unto
my grande chylde Alexander Barllowe his picture. Also I geve
unto my wyflFe my owne picture to keepe duriuge her lyffe, and
after her deathe then I geve the same picture to my daughter
Katteren Barllowe to keepe till suche tyme as my grande chylde
Allexander shalbe maried and a housekeeper, and then my will ys
that shee delyver the same to hym as a gyfte from me, and that yt
shall remeane at barlowe then as an heireloome to the sayd Allex-
ander Barlowe my grandechylde and his heires.^ Also my will
^ What became of tliis lieii'-Ioom at the dispersion of the effects of the Barlows on the
extinction of the family is not known. A copper-plate engraved with a portrait, half-
length, of Sir Alexander, taken as it seems from an original — probably the original —
family picture, and at no very recent date, is now in the possession of Mr. George
Barlow of Greenhill, Oldham. It represents Sir Alexander as habited in a black gown
profusely ornamented with small tassels, his neck encircled by the ample ruff of the
M M
266 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
and mynde ys that myne executors shall see ^formed and dys-
charged w^^in towe yeares after my deathe the late will of my
sister Elizabethe for soe muche as shalbe uniformed and not
dyscharged at the tyme of my deathe. Also my Avill and myud is
that the velvett sute imbroadred w*^ goulde be dysposed of to that
ende and place as my father heretofore dyd dispose of the same ;
and I desyre myne executors hereafter named, thoughe theye
keepe yt for a tyme yett not to defeande this my mynde and
my fathers will. Also I geve unto the sister of my late servante
Robarte Scoules whiche dwellethe in Craven in Yorkesheire forttye
shillinges in money wHn one yeare after my deathe ; and yf shee
be dead then to her eldeste chylde then liveinge. Also I geve to
Robarte Hicheiie of Knowesley the soiiie of vjs viij^i w'Mn one yeare
next after my deathe ; and yf he be dead then to his eldeste chylde
lyviuge. Also my will and mynde ys that xx** be geaven and dis-
tributed amonge the poore of Hardaye, Chowlerton and Mars-
lache by xij*! a peece doowle to praye for my soule, and the same
distribution to be at the discretione of my executors w^Mn one
period. His right hand is raised, and in his left he holds a book. Above the head
of the figure are the words lESV FILI DEI MISERERE MEI; SANCTA
MARIA MATER DEI ORA PRO ME ; and at the foot, SIR ALEXANDER
BARLOW KNT. From the right hand corner proceed rays and the word ECCE,
together with the sentence written diagonally until from the corner it reaches nearly
to the head of the figure, TVFE SI ME ET TE, the meaning of which is not very
clear. On the left of the portrait are several particulars of family history relating to
Sir Alexander: — ".ETATIS SV^ 60, 1616. This S-- Alex barlow Kuyght, the
elder, sonne to Alex barlow Esq. who died in prisson for the Gatholyck Relygion, had
issue : —
1 S^ Alex barlow Knyght who Elizabeth, died an Infant.
toi^ether w"> his father was Margaret married to John Talbot of
knyghted att the coronation Sadbur' esquire,
of Eyng James. ffrancis.
2 George. Mary.
3 WiUiam. Jane.
4 Edward. Kathorin."
5 John who died at ... in Spayne
6 Robert dyed young.
7 Edward died an Infant.
8 Robert.
CHAPEL OF CIIORLTON. 267
ycare nexte after my deathe. And for the restc and remaynder of
all my goodes I geve and bequeathe them to my executors here-
after named, equallye to be devyded amongeste them. And of
this my laste will and testamente I make my exeeutors my three
yongeste daughters, Mary, Jane and Kathereu Barlowc, whom I
doe charge upon my blessinge and as they will answare me in an
other Avorlde to see this my sayd will duly and truly pformed
accordingely.
Witnesses : Richard Smithe, Francis Greaves, Edward Warren.
The will appears to have been made by Sir Alexander when
abroad, as the following codicil testifies : — " Also at my cominge
out of England I remeaued indebted and chargeable onely w^^ the
debtes of xvijii and some odde money e of the executorshippe of
my late brother-in-lawe Edwarde Scarisbricke Ksquiere, but hereby
my will is that yt shalbe xx^i and yf yt caube pved or knowen that
I owe more, that yt be dyseharged lykewysse. Allso the remayne
of the pformance of my late sister Elizabethe her will ; and allso I
take ytt that twenty nobles is oweinge to the seoule of Manchester
which was heretofore taken up by my father.
Debtes due and oweinge to my sellfe : — Imprimis, The debte
of the late Robarte Pilkiugeton of Rivington esquiere, and
recovered by a Judgement in the Cornon Pleas, of 250ii and of
iiijii for charges of the sute. Also the remayne of the debte by
lease from one Smythe. Allso the remeyne of the fyne of John
Hardaye his house.
My father passed a fyne of all my landes in the fyrste and
seaconde or seconde and threed yeares of Phillipe and Mary att
Lancaster to John Parr and Gilbert Bibbey gent., the copye or
cyrograffe of whiche fyne I lefte in my clossett at Barlowe, but my
Sonne Alexander hathe gotten the same out from thence, by what
meanes I know not, and woulde not delyver it me.
(Signed) Alexander Barlowe.'""
His injunctions relative to his interment at Didsbury were not
complied with, or rather, dying abroad, a discretionary power was
268 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
left with his executors, aud he was buried at the Collegiate Church
of Manchester April 21, 1620. In a letter dated Manchester May
10, 1620, addressed by one Leonard Smedley to '' the Rt. Worpi
S"^ Richard S*^ George Kt. Norroy King of Armes at his house in
Holborne/' occurs the following passage referring to the state
ceremonial which generally succeeded the interment of persons of
consideration : — " Sir Alexander Barlow of Barlow ob. circa April
27, 1620, and was buried at Manchester Church by torch light,
whose exors cannot yet resolve whether to have a funeral or noe
by reson sume of them ar yet in the south pts neere London &c.
but Avithin 20 dales I am to receave an absolute answer/' He was
succeeded by his son Alexander, who also received knighthood
with his father at the coronation of James I. He married first,
Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Parker Lord Morley and Mont-
eagle, by whom he had issue a son Alexander and two daughters.
His second wife was Dorothy, daughter of Sir Thomas Gresley of
Drakelow Bart, He died in 1642, and was interred July 6 in the
Collegiate Church of JManchester. He makes his will April 4,
1631, eleven years before his death; it was proved at Chester
July 8, 1642.'
I S'' Alexander Barlowe of Barlowe within the countie of Lan-
caster Knight, not sicke in bodie but in good healthe and perfecte
memorie, thaukes bee unto Almightie God ; yet knowinge that
nothinge is more certaine then death, nor nothinge more uncer-
taine then the tyme when, — the life of man being daylie subiecte
to so manic perills and casualties, aud all meu being especiallie
coinanded even by God Himselfe, accordinge to the example of
good Kinge Ezekiah, to sett theire houses in order,— have now in
this tyme of my health ordained and made this my last will and
testament in manner and forme folio winge : — ffirste, I coriiend
my soule into the handes of Almightie God my Creator, hoping
by the pretious death and blood sheddinge of Christ Jesus my
Saviour, to have full remission of all my siunes, aud in and through
Him to bee freelie purged from the same. Next I coinend my
bodie to the earthe whereof it was made, to bee buried in the
CHAPEL OF CIIORLTON. 2G9
parish churche of Manchester as neare to my late ffathcr as con-
vcnicntlye may bee, desiring my exeeutors hereunder named that
I raaye bee thither brought with as litle cost as possible can bee.
Also I give, will and bequeath unto my sonne Alexander, begotten
by my first wife, the soiine of five shillinges in money. Also I give
and bequeathe unto my daughter Dorothie the like soiTie of five
shillinges in money. Also I give and bequeathe unto my daughter
Katharine the like soihe of five shillinges in money. Also I give
and bequeath unto my sonne Thomas the soine of ffiftie poundes
in money and one peece of plate w*^^^ was given by S"" Edwarde
Mosley unto my said sonne Thomas at his baptizinge, and one
double guilt salte. Also I give and bequeathe unto my daughter
Anne the soiTie of ffiftie poundes in money and ray flatt guilt
bowle. Also I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Marie the
like soiue of flfiftie poundes in money and my double guilt bason
and ewer. Also I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Elizabeth
the like soihe of ffiftie poundes in money and my nest of Tunnes
double guilte. Also my will and desire is that my now wife Dame
Dorothie Barlowe shall have the keepinge of all theis parcells of
plate duringe the tearme of her naturall life. Also I give, devise
and bequeathe unto my said dearest beloved wife Dame Dorothie
Barlowe all the rest of my goodes, credittes, debtes owinge unto
mee by bond, bill or otherwise^ also my moneys, plate, jewelles,
houshould stuffe, cattails and ehattells whatsoever or wheresover.
Lastlye I doe ordaine, constitute and appointe my well beloved
eosens Peter Egerton of the Sliawe in the countie of Lancaster
esquier, William Dauntesey of Agecrofte esquier and Ellis Prest-
wich gentleman, to bee executors of this my last will and
testament, unto everie one of w^ii I give and bequeath a two and
twentie shillinges peece of goulde, hoping that they will trulie and
dulie see everie parte and particular branche hereof executed and
performed. And I doe nominate and appointe my lovinge brother-
in-lawe S' George Greysley Knight and Baronett, and my lovinge
cosen Roger Downes of Wardeley esquier, Vice chamberlaine of
the countie pallatyne of Chester, to bee overseers hereof. In
270 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
witnes whereof I the said S'' Alexander Barlowe liereunto have
putt my hande and seale this fourthe daie of A prill in the seaventh
yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lorde Charles, by the grace
of God of England, Scotland, ffrance and Irelande Kinge, Defender
of the faith &c. annoque Domini 1631 . In presence of theis per-
sons whose names are hereunder written : — Alexander Barlowe,
William Grantham, Alexander Smythe, George Brooke, James
Birche.
But fiercer trials and yet more severe persecutions were in
store for the family. The two rival creeds were engaged in a
deadly struggle for victory, and in no county did Popery present
a more determined front than in Lancashire. Conspiracies were
from time to time framed by the Papists against the Protestant
Queen and her government, and these called for the enactment
of severe laws for their suppression. The tendency of such le-
gislation was to drive into foreign countries those Avhose safety
was imperilled by a continued residence in England. Many
families sought refuge in France, where an English seminary
was established at Douay in 1568, from which a succession of
missionaries went forth, returning to their native laud and
devoting themselves to the work of resisting the Queen's efforts to
abolish Popery, and conspiring against her majesty's person, which
they did often at the cost of their lives. By statute 27 Elizabeth
cap. 2, all Jesuits, Seminary Priests and other Priests made or
ordained out of the realm, were ordered to quit the country by a
certain day. It was further enacted, that coming into the king-
dom after that time should be adjudged high treason. And that
anyone receiving, relieving, comforting, &c. such person, should
be considered a felon and suffer death. It was also decreed, that
if any person, not being a Jesuit, Seminary Priest, &c. &c., now
being, or which hereafter should be of, or brought up in, any
college of Jesuits already erected or ordained, or hereafter to be
erected or ordained, iu the parts beyond the seas or out of this
realm, should not within six months after a proclamation in that
behalf to be made in the city of London under the Great Seal of
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 271
England, return into tliis realm, and within two days after such
return, before the bishop of the diocese or two justices of the peace
of the county where he shall arrive, submit himself to her majesty
and her laws, and take the oath set forth by her act in the first
year of her reign, that then every such person who should other-
wise return and be in the realm, should be judged a traitor and
guilty of high treason. Should any person hold communication
with any Jesuit, Seminary Priest, &c. abroad, or should he send
any money towards the support of any college or seminary, then
that he incur the danger and penalty of praemunire. If any one
should send his child or ward to any college abroad for education,
he rendered himself liable to the forfeiture of the sum of one
hundred pounds. All persons knowing of or discovering any
Jesuit, Seminary Priest, &c., and not informing within twelve
days, were to be fined and imprisoned at the Queen's pleasure.
Of those Papists banished from their native land and educated
beyond the seas, who returned to exercise the proscribed office of
priest, were two of the younger sons of Sir Alexander Barlow the
elder, — Edward, who took the name of Father Ambrose, and suf-
ered death for his religion at Lancaster September 10, 1641, and
his elder brother, known as Father Rudesind Barlow, who has not
been identified by his true Christian name, but who in 1623, being
at the time president of the English congregation of St. Benedict,
was mainly instrumental in founding an abbey for Benedictine
nuns at Cambray.^
An interesting memoir of the former, derived from two MS.
relations kept by the English Benedictines at Douay, one of them
being a letter of his brother. Father Rudesind Barlow, to the abbot
and monks of Cellanova, dated January 1, 1642, has been already
given to the public by Challoner in his Memoirs of Missionary
Priests (part ii. pp. 96-102) ; but as this work is little known
beyond the communion of the Romish church, it has been thought
worthy of insertion in the accompanying family memoir.^
' Annual Register, vol. xlii. pp. 428-9.
' See also Dodd's Cliurcli History, Tol. iii. p. 100. Brussels, 1742,
272 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Edward Barlow [the younger son] was a monk of the order of
St. Benedict, called in religion Father Ambrose. He was born at
Barlow Hall near Manchester in 1585, of pious and Catholic
parents [and baptized at Didsbury Chapel November 30, 1585],
His father was that constant confessor of Christ, Alexander
Barlow Esq., who made it his care to give this his son a Catholic
and liberal education. By these means his tender mind, which
had already a happy sweetness of temper and an inclination to
piety and learning, Avas improved, and strongly established in the
true faith and the love of God. When he was twelve years old he
was taken from school to be page to a relation, a person of quality.
But as he grew up and considered the emptiness and vanity of the
transitory toys of this life and the greatness of things eternal, he
took a resolution to withdraw himself from the world, and to go
abroad, in order to procure those helps of virtue and learning
which might qualify him for the priesthood, and enable him to be
of some assistance to his native country. The place he made
choice of for his studies was the University of Douay, which had
been recommended to him by fame and by the testimony of many
learned and pious priests who had studied there. Here meeting
with two other young gentlemen of equal age and of the same
inclinations, he chose them for his chamber-fellows, and with them
frequented the humanity schools at Anchin College, under the
fathers of the society, as the alumni of the English seminary all
did during Dr. Worthington's presidency. When he had finished
his humanity he was sent by the aforesaid Dr. Worthington
(August 23, 1610) from the EugUsh College of Douay to that of
Valladolid, where he went through his course of philosophy and
part of his divinity; for before he had finished the latter he
followed his brother Dr. Ptudesind Barlow to Douay, where he
received the habit of St. Benedict, and after making his noviceship
at a house then belonging to the English congregation near St. Malo
in Little Britanny, he was professed at Douay in 1615; and being
now thirty years old, and otherwise very well qualified by virtue
and learning for the apostolic calling, he was presented by his
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 273
superiors not loug after his profession to the holy order of priest-
hood, and sent upon the English mission, to which he found him-
self strongly invited by an inward call. The scat of his mission-
ary labours was his native country of Lancashire, " where," says
Mr. Knaresborough in his MSS. collections, "his memory is held
in great esteem to this day by the Catholics of that country, for his
great zeal in the conversion of souls and the exemplary piety of his
life and conversation." ^Tis scarce to be expressed what wonder-
ful blessings the Almighty gave to the labours of this His faithful
servant, who made it his constant business to join the care of his
own soul Avith that of his flock, and to preach full as much by
example as by words. Such was the fervour of his zeal that he
thought the day lost in which he had not done some notable thing
for the salvation of souls. Night and day he was ever ready to
lay hold of all occasions of reclaiming any one from error ; and
whatever time he could spare from his devotions he employed in
seeking after the lost sheep, and in exhorting, instructing and
correcting sinners, and omitted no opportunity of preaching the
word of God. But then he never neglected the care of his own
sanctification. He celebrated mass, and recited the office with
great reverence and devotion; had his fixed hours for mental
prayer, which he never omitted ; and found so much pleasure in
this inward conversation with God (from which he received that
constant supply of heavenly light and strength) that when the
time came on which he had devoted to this holy exercise he was
affected with a sensible joy as much as worldlings woidd be when
going to a feast. He had also a great devotion to the rosary,
which he daily recited and recommended much to his penitents ;
and was very tenderly aftected with the sacred mysteries of the
incarnation, passion and resurrection of the Son of God (which he
there contemplated), and was much devoted to His blessed mother.
He often meditated on the sufferings of his Kedeemer with his
arms extended in the form of a cross, and these meditations
enkindled in his soul a desire of suffering for Christ, a happiness
for which he daily prayed. He had a great contempt of the world
N N
274 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
and its vanities, and a very bumble opinion of bimself, joined witb
a great esteem, love and veneration for the virtue of otbers. He
was always afraid of honours and preferments, and bad a horror of
vain glory, which he used to call the worm or moth of virtues, and
which he never failed to correct in others, sometimes in a jocose
way, at others seriously, according to the temper of the persons.
He industriously avoided feasts and assemblies, and all meetings
for merry-making, as Hable to dangers of excess, idle talk and
detraction. He had no regard for temporal interest, and refused
(though desired by many) to live in great families where he might
be well accommodated with all things ; choosing rather to Hve in
a private country-house where the poor, to whom he had chiefly
devoted his labours, might have at all times free access to him ;
to whom also he plentifully imparted both spiritual and corporal
alms according to his ability. He would never have a servant till
forced to it by sickness, never used a horse, but made his pastoral
visits always on foot. His apparel was mean ; neither would he
ever wear a sword or carry a watch. He allowed himself no
manner of play or pastime, and avoided all superfluous talk and
conversation, more especially with those of the fair sex, how
virtuous or quaUfied soever ; and when the business of his calling
obliged him to make any stay in such company, he kept his eyes
fixed on the ground, and would not look them in the face. Being
asked one day by a lady of quality why he so much avoided the
company of women since he himself was born of a woman, he
replied, " For that very reason I avoid the company of Avomen
beause I was born of a woman," signifying that the corruption of
concupiscence which from our very birth is entailed upon us by
original sin, was what made him look upon himself obliged to use
those precautions. He boarded Avith an honest country farmer,
where his diet was chiefly whitmeats [milk, butter or cheese] and
garden stuff", for he seldom ate flesh vmless by occasion of company
that came to visit him. He drank only small beer, and that very
sparingly, and always abstained from wine. Being asked the
reason why he did so, he alleged the saying of the wise man,
CUAPEL OF CIIORLTON. 275
" Wine and womeu make the wise apostatise/' lie was never
idle, but was always either praying, studying, preaching, adminis-
tering the sacraments, or (which he used sometimes to divert
himself with) painting pictures of Christ or His blessed mother.
He was sometimes applied to to exorcise persons possessed by the
devil, which he did with good success. He had a great talent in
composing of differences and reconciling such as were at variance,
and was consulted as an oracle by the Catholics of that country in
all their doubts and difficulties. He feared no dangers when God's
honour and the salvation of souls called him forth, and has some-
times, when engaged in such expeditions, passed even at noonday
through the midst of enemies without apprehension ; and when
some people would desire him to be more cautious he Avould turn
them off with a joke, for he was usually very cheerful and pleasant
in conversation, so that they who knew him best thought he was,
in this regard, not unlike the celebrated Sir Thomas ]More. Yet
he was very severe in rebuking sin, so that obstinate and impeni-
tent sinners were afraid of coming near him. Nothing more
afflicted him than when he saw any one going astray from the
right path of virtue and truth, more especially if it were a person
of whom he had conceived a good opinion or had great hopes.
Upon these occasions he would at first be almost oppressed with
melancholy, till recollecting himself in God, and submitting to His
wise providence justly permitting evil, to draw greater good out of
it, he recovered again his usual peace and serenity. Some months
before his last apprehension (for he was several times a prisoner),
hearing that some persons whom he loved as his own soul were in
a resolution of doing something very wicked, which was like to be
the ruin of many souls, he was so strongly on a sudden affected
with it, that it flung him into a fit of the dead palsy, which took
away the use of one side, and put him in danger of his life. T\ hat
added very much to his cross was the fear lest his poor children
whom he had begotten to Christ should now be left destitute of
spiritual assistance ; and whereas his convulsions and pains seemed
to have brought him to death's door, he had this additional afflic-
276 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
tion, that no priest could be found to administer the holy
sacraments to him. In these extremities, God Almighty was
pleased to comfort him ; and being in a manner out of himself he
broke forth into these words : — " Lord, Thy will be done ; a due
conformity of our will to Thine is to be preferred to the use of the
sacraments, and even to martyrdom itself; I reverence and
earnestly desire Thy sacraments, and I have often wished to lay
down my life for Thee in the profession of my faith, but if it be
pleasing to Thy infinite wisdom by this illness to take me out of
the prison of this body, half dead already. Thy will be done/^
Whilst he was in these dispositions God was pleased to send him
a priest of the society of Jesus to assist him, as he himself had
twelve years before exercised the same charity to Father Arrow-
smith in prison before his last conflict ; at which time that
confessor of Christ is said to have foretold that he should be the
next to follow him ; at least this is certain, by the testimony of
Mr. Barlow himself, in a letter to his brother Rudesind (who
quotes it in his manuscript relation), dated out of prison May 17,
1641, that Father Arrowsmith, " the night after he suflered (when
as yet Mr. Barlow had not heard of his suffering) standing by his
bed-side, told him, ' I have already suffered ; you must also suffer;
speak but little, for they will take advantage of your words.' " On
the eves before the principal festivals of the year, whilst Mr.
Barlow was in health, the Catholics resorted to him from distant
places, and passed the night after the manner of the primitive
church, iu watching, prayer and spiritual colloquies ; whilst for his
part he was employed almost all the night in hearing confessions.
On the next day he treated them all with a dinner, where he and
some of the more honourable sort of his flock served them that
were poor and waited upon them, and then dined off their leavings.
When he sent them home he gave each of them a groat in alms ;
and when all had dined he distributed what remained to the poor
of the parish. His zeal had made him as well known in all that
neighbourhood as the very parson of the parish. Some repre-
hended him for going about so publicly, to whom he replied, " Let
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 277
them fear that have anything to lose which they are unwilhng to
part with ;" which was not his case who had set his heart upon
nothing in this workl, and was even desirous to lay down his life
for God's cause. He could not be persuaded by his friends to
retire further off from danger to a house of a kinsman of his in
Cheshire, being desirous, if it pleased God, to shed his blood at
Lancaster. He was beginning to recover of his illness but was as
yet very weak, when he was apprehended on Easter Day, 1641, in
the following manner, according to the account which he himself
sent out of prison to his brother Rudesind : — A neighbouring
minister^ who had with him at church a numerous congregation,
instead of entertaining them on that solemn day with a sermon
and prayers as usual, proposed to them, as a work more worthy
their zeal for the gospel, to go along with him to apprehend Barlow
that noted popish priest, whom they would now be sure to find in
the midst of his flock, whereas were they to stay till church time
was over they would miss the opportunity. They relished the
proposition, and being about four hundred in number, armed with
clubs and swords, followed, the parson marching in front in his
surplice, to the house where Mr. Barlow, having finished mass,
was making an exhortation to his people, about a hundred in
number, on the subject of patience. The Catholics that were
within, as soon as they perceived the house was besieged, would
have persuaded the man of God to hide himself, there being more
than one private place for that purpose in the house, but he would
by no means consent to secure himself and leave his sheep to the
mercy of these wolves ; wherefore exhorting them all to con-
stancy, and putting them in mind that these light and momentary
tribulations would work in them an eternal weight of glory, and
telling them withal how ready he was for his part to suffer all
things for Christ, he ordered to open the doors. The mob imme-
diately rushed in, crying out, " Where is Barlow ? where is
1 Other accounts fix the scene of his apprehension at Morleys, a seat of the Tykles-
ley family, and the name of the instigator Mr. Risley, a neighbouring Justice of the
Peace.
278 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Barlow ? He is the man we want :" and laying hands upon him
they secured him, letting the rest go upon giving caution for their
appearance. In the meantime they searched the whole house, and
broke open Mr. Barlow's chest, in hopes of finding money ; but
see the wonderful providence of our Lord ! Though there was a
considerable sum of money there which had been lately sent him
by some charitable gentlemen to be given to the poor, and though
they rummaged and turned over all his clothes and other things,
yet they could not find this bag, for which providence Mr. Barlow
was very thankful, and gave proper orders afterwards for the
disposing of the money according to the intention of the donors.
Mr. Barlow being now in the hands of this mob and their minister
(who, it seems, had acted in this whole affair without any warrant)
was carried by them, the same day, before a justice of the peace,
who sent him, guarded by sixty armed men, to Lancaster Castle.
Some of his flock would have attempted to rescue him m the way
out of their hands, but he earnestly entreated them not to think
of it. He was carried to gaol in a sort of a triumph by this armed
mob, who insulted over him and treated him with contempt, which
was to him a subject of joy; though at this time he was as yet so
weak that he could not sit on horseback without one behind him
to support him. He was kept in prison from Easter till the
summer assizes, and in the meantime, instead of being weakened
or cast down by his sufi'erings, he wonderfully recovered his
strength and health. He would not hear of the propositions made
by his friends, of using their interest to have him removed up to
London, or sent into banishment, as many others had been ; but
desired them to be easy and not to concern themselves about him,
for that to die for this cause (viz. for being a Catholic priest) was
to him more desirable than life; that he must die sometime or
other, and could not die a better death. To some also upon this
occasion he imparted in confidence the vision which he had of
Father Arrowsmith. In prison he often entertained himself with
the book of Boetius De Consolatione, which the gaoler taking
notice of, took the book away ; at which Mr. Barlow smilingly
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 279
said, " If you take this little book away I will betake myself to
that great book from which Boetius learned his wholesome doc-
trine, and that l)ook you can never take away from me ;" and this
is what he constantly practised by mental prayer. When any one
came to visit him in prison he would not suffer the time to be lost
in vain or worldly talk, but entertained the party with such
discourses only as were for his instruction and edification. After
above four months' imprisonment his trial came on on the 7th of
September, before Sir Robert Heath, who is said to have had
instructions from the parliament if any priest were convicted at
Lancaster to see the law executed upon him for a terror to the
Catholics, who were numerous in that county. The indictment
being read, Mr. Barlow freely acknowledged himself a priest, and
that he had exercised his priestly functions for above twenty years
in this kingdom. The judge asked him why he had not obeyed
the king's pi'oclamation, commanding all priests to depart the
realm before the 7th of April last past? Mr. Barlow answered
that several persons there present, and especially they who had
brought him to prison, very well knew that he was then so weak,
by a long and grievous illness, that he was no ways in condition to
obey tbe proclamation. The judge asked him what he thought of
the justice of those laws by which priests were put to death ? He
answered that all laws made against Catholics on account of their
religion were unjust and impious, for what law, said he, can be
more unjust than this, by which priests are condemned to suffer
as traitors merely because they are Roman, that is, true priests ?
for there are no other true priests but the Roman ; and if these be
destroyed what must become of the Divine law, when none remain
to preach God's word and administer His sacraments ? " Then,"
said the judge, " what opinion have you of the makers of those
laws, and of those who by their office see them put in execution ?"
Mr. Barlow replied, " If, my lord, in consequence of so unjust a
law, you should condemn me to die, you would send me to heaven
and yourself to hell." " Make what judgment you please," said
the judge, "of my salvation; for my part, though the law has
280 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
brougbt you hither as a criminal and a seducer of the people, I
shall not pass so uncharitable a sentence upon you." " I am no
seducer/' said Mr. Barlow, "but a reducer of the people to the
true and ancient religion." The judge, as he afterwards acknow-
ledged, was astonished at the constancy of his answers and his
intrepidity, and put him in mind that his life was in his hands,
and that it was in his power to acquit him or condemn him ; " and
don't you know and acknowledge/' said he, ''that I sit here as
your judge?" "I know," said the prisoner, "and acknowledge
you judge, but in such causes only as belong to the temporal court
and tribunal ; but in spiritual matters, and in things belonging to
the court of conscience, be pleased to take notice that I am judge,
and therefore I tell you plainly, that if by that unjust law you
sentence me to die, it will be to my salvation and your damnation."
Upon this the judge directed the jury to bring him in guilty, and
the next day pronounced sentence upon him in the usual form.
Mr. Barlow heard the sentence with a cheerful and pleasant
countenance, and said aloud, "Thanks be to God/' and then
prayed heartily to the Divine Majesty to forgive all that had any
ways been accessory to his death. The judge applauded his charity
in this, and granted him what he petitioned for, viz. a chamber to
himself in the castle, where, for the short remainder of his time,
he might without molestation apply himself to his devotions, and
prepare for his exit. On Friday the 10th of September he was
brought out to suffer, according to sentence, and laid upon the
hurdle, on which he was drawn to the place of execution, carrying
all the way in his hand a cross of wood which he had made.
When he was come to the place, being taken off the hurdle, he
went three times round the gallows, carrying the cross before his
breast, and reciting the penitent psalm Miserere. Some ministers
were for disputing with him about religion, but he told them it
was an unfair and unreasonable challenge, and that he had some-
thing else to do at present than to hearken to their fooleries. He
suffered with great constancy according to sentence, and so passed
from short labours and pains to eternal rest and joy, in the fifty-
CHAPEL OF CIIORLTON. 281
fifth year of his age, the twenty-fifth of his religious profession,
and the twenty-fourth of his priesthood and mission. ^
Sir Alexander Barlow the younger died in 1642, and was fol-
lowed by his only surviving son by the first marriage of his father,
and fourth of the name in suceession reeorded in the pedigree of
the family. He married Franees, daughter of William Brereton
of Ashley Esq., and dying without issue about the year 1654 was
suceeeded by his half-brother Thomas.
Thomas Barlow Esq., eldest son of the aforesaid Sir Alexander
and his seeond wife Dorothy Gresley, married Winifred, daughter
of Anthony Meinell Esq. of North Kilvingtou in Yorkshire, and
dying in 1684 left a son Anthony his suecessor, who appears to
have survived his two elder brothers Thomas and Alexander, and
two daughters, Mary and Winifred. The latter daughter died
unmarried in 1688, having two years previously made a will
(dated December 6, 1686), wherein she disposes of her estate as
follows : — She gives to her dear brother Anthony Barlow Esq.
the full sum of £100; to her brother Mr. Charles Killingbeek the
sum of £15 ; to her dear mother Winifred Barlow .£10 and her
silver watch; to Mr. Richard Mather .aElO; to Ellen Parkinson
£1 ; to Elizabeth Renshaw £1 ; to her sister Mrs. Mary Barlow
j610, to be distributed as she knows testatrix wishes. She gives
to the poor the sum of £10; to Mrs. Ann Barlow her aunt £5 ;
to Eliza Keth, her sister Barlow's maid, her crape manteau and
petticoat ; to her dear sister Mrs. Mary Barlow, whom she
appoints executrix, the full and entire sum of £300, with the rest
and residue of all her goods, debts, &c., after the discharge of all
necessary expenses and legacies.
The name of Anthony Barlow Esq. appears in the List of
Papists who in conformity with act 1 George I. registered their
estates and the respective values thereof. The yearly value of
' There is a small engraved head of Father Ambrose Barlow, which bears the
following inscription : — " Vera effigies E.''' Arabrosii Barlo, presbyteri, et monachi
cougregationis Anglicanse, ordinis S" Bencdicti, qui pro Christi fide, sanguinem fudit
Lancastrise, in Anglia, 10 Septembris, 1641, £et. 55."
O O
282 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
his estate is returned at .£171 9s. He mai-ried Magdalene^ sister
of Sir Edward Goulding, and died in 1723. His will is dated
August 3, 1722, and discloses certain sympathies on the part of
two of his sons with the cause of the proscribed Stuarts. Its
provisions are as follows : — He bequeaths his soul to God, and
his body "to the earth whence it came, to be decently buried
without any pomp or show in the parish church of Manchester in
the same grave where my late dear father and mother were interred
and buried, the charge whereof I desire may not exceed the sum
of sixty pounds." He further gives all that his manor or lordship
of Barlow in the said county of Lancaster, with all the rights,
members, &c., and all his lands, &c., in Lancashire or elsewhere
in the Kingdom of England, unto John Warren of Poynton in the
county of Chester Esquire, Humphrey Trafford of Traflbrd in the
county of Lancaster Esquire, John JNIoss of Manchester in the
county of Lancaster woollen draper, and William Hulme of Man-
chester aforesaid grocer, upon trust, that as to the one messuage or
tenement in Barlow aforesaid, now in the possession or occupation
of John Hulme, unto the use of Edward Barlow, his third son, for
his natural life. And as to those several parcels of land commonly
called The Parkeye INIeadow, The House Meadow, and Rason's
Meadow, to the use of his three daughters Winifred Barlow, Mary
Barlow and Elizabeth Barlovv^, and their respective assigns for the
term of their natural lives, equally to be divided. Then as to the
aforesaid premises, from and after the determination of the several
estates herein before limited, and as to and for all the rest and residue
of the lands and premises whereof no use is herein before declared,
he gives to the aforesaid John Warren, Humphrey Trafford, John
Moss and William Hulme upon trust that they the said trustees
shall out of the rents, issues and profits thereof by sale or mort-
gage of the same or any other lawful means, raise the several sums
of £200 apiece to be paid to his three younger sons Anthony
Barlow, John Barlow and Boger Barlow. And then as to the said
premises charged and chargeable as aforesaid, he settles the same
on the trustees aforesaid for the benefit of Thomas Barlow, his
CHAPEL OF CnORLTON. 283
eldest sou, for his natural life, and to the heirs male of his body in
succession. And for want of such issue, then to the said trustees
for the use of Anthony Earlow, testator's second son, and his heirs
male; and for want of such issue then in like manner for the
benefit of John Barlow, testator's fourth son, and his heirs male ;
and in default of such issue then in like manner to the use of
Eoffer Barlow, testator's fifth son, and his heirs male; and in
default of such issue then to the said trustees, who shall from and
immediately after the death of the said Thomas BarloAv and
Anthony Barlow and the survivor of them, convey the remainder
in fee of the said lands to such person or persons who shall then
be testator's immediate heir-at-law. " But in case there shall then
be any interruption in the descent to my immediate heir occasioned
by the corruption blood of the said Thomas Barlow or Anthony
Barlow now attainted of high treason, upon trust then to convey
the same to such person or persons as his or their heirs who should
then have been my immediate heir-at-law in case the blood of the
said Thomas Barlow and Anthony Barlow had never been cor-
rupted as aforesaid." Provided always that it shall be lawful for
the said trustees for and during the natural life of the said Thomas
Barlow to lease all or any part of the said premises which have
been usually leased, for one, two or three lives or any number of
years determinable upon one, two or three lives, upon the usual
fines. And it is his further will and pleasure that it shall be
lawful for his said trustees during the life of the said Thomas
Barlow by the direction of the said Thomas Barlow first had in
writing under his hand and seal, to charge all or any part of the
said premises, after the death of the said Thomas Barlow, with
any annuity or yearly rent-charge to and for the use of ^lary
Barlow, now wife of the said Thomas Barlow, during her natural
life, or in case of her death any other wife he may have, for the
jointure of such woman, provided the annuity do not exceed the
yearly rent of £10 for every £100 the said Mary Barlow or such
other woman he shall hereafter take to wife was or shall be
respectively entitled to at the time of their respective intermar-
284 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
riages with the said Thomas Barlow, and provided there be not
any issue male then living of the said Thomas Barlow by any
former wife. Provision is also made for charging the said lands
after the death of the said Thomas Barlow with any sums not
exceeding such portion as the said JSIary Barlow or such other
woman he shall hereafter take to wife was or shall be respectively
entitled to at the time of their respective marriages, for the use of
their respective younger children. Similar provision is also made
contingent on the succession of Anthony Barlow to the estates, as
already recited. And as for and concerning his goods, chattels
and personal estate (after all his just debts and funeral expenses
are discharged) he disposes thereof in maimer following : — First
he gives the sum of £5 to be put out in some faithful hands, and the
interest to be distributed every Good Friday amongst the poorest
of his tenants, or else to be paid to the overseers of the poor for
Chollerton and divided amongst his tenants as aforesaid, which
£5 was left by one Hartley of Chollerton, tenant formerly to the
manor of Barlow. Also he gives to the poor of Chollerton town
£5 ; to the poor of Withington forty shillings ; and J20 to be
added to the poor-stock of Manchester. Lastly he gives and
bequeaths all the rest and remainder of his said personal estate to
his said trustees and to his daughter Winifred, whom he appoints
executors of this his last will and testament; and he hereby
revokes all former wills. In witnes > whereof he has to this his
will contained in two skins of parchment set his hand and seal
this third day of August 1722. Witnesses, John Culcheth,
Richard Chorley, Ralph Hilton.
On the death of Anthony Barlow Esq. the testator, in 1723, the
estates appear to have descended to his eldest son Thomas, whose
attainder had been by this time set aside. He married, but the
name of his wife is not known. Sad differences arose between
them, which involve 1 other members of the family in the quarrel,
and he ended his life in Lancaster Castle, where he was under-
going a term of imprisonment, the penalty awarded for an at-
tempt to murder his wife. After his decease an action was com-
CHAPEL OF CUORLTON. 285
menced by his sister Winifred against his widow, who was charged
with exhibiting a false and fraudulent inventory of the goods and
chattels of her deceased husband. The depositions of witnesses
summoned to substantiate the charge are dated jNIarch 6, 1734,
and are as follows : —
Mary Barlow of ^Manchester, spinster, saith, that being sister of
y« deced' in this cause, Thomas Barlow of Barlow Esq., she often
saw in his hfe-time a silver watch he had, made by one Wolfhall
of London, or some person of some such like name there, as she
was told, w^'i her s'^ brother very much valued and was much
talked of and known in their family for its beauty and fine work-
manship. That it was, before, y^ watch of S^ Edward Golding of
Nottinghamshire deceased, her mother's brother, and that his
widow either gave or sold it to her s'^ brother. That it was a
pattern (she has heard) of many other watches w^b were sent and
sold beyond sea at great rates. That her father, Anthony Barlow
of Barlow Esq. deceased, had in his life-time a silver chalice doubly
gilt, w^^, w*^ y^ furniture of his chapel, was after his death sold by the
said Winifred, one of his executors, to y*^ deced^ in this cause, her
brother, since whose death, tj wit on y^ 8^^ of November last, the
very same chalice (as she is well satisfied, having often seen it in
her father's time) was at y^ old Coff'ee House in Manchester pro-
duced before S'' Oswald ]\Iosley and this depon* by her brother
Mr. Edward Barlow upon occasion of clearing her s^ sister
"Winifred from an aspersion laid upon her of having taken it, and
being weighed before she came into y" company by a goldsmith,
was found (as y^ s'i goldsmith afterw^^ told her) to be 14 oz. ten
pennyweights, w-^^^', at five shillings an ounce only, came to
£3 12s. 6d.
Christian Harpur, spinster, deposed, that she lived as servant
with ye deced* in this cause, Thomas Barlow of Barlow Esq. at
Barlow, for about two years, ending a considerable time before his
death; and after his death w*^ his widow Mrs. Mary Barlow at
Manchester, for about two years more. That she understood he,
Mr. Barlow, was much in debt, in so much y* he never or seldom
286 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
appeared out of y« doors but on Sundays, and there was but poor
housekeeping by y* means whilst she staid there. That after she
came to hve w'^'^ her s-
_^ g ^ g IM p
<;
CaW-COrH
c3
_^
c sis M-t^ J .
o 9 o o^iS °
.•2 rt « a o'-'
b.tl S o ^ 2 ^ eg
"IL^^
—"5 H ^ '—'''" '>
S t~ c3 5^ § :;'. .
»^ <^ ^ 7? c5 o t^
.S « « r» O « r-l
« o ce ° cj
W
Pi fii
•«?£ ^.2
•3=5
«^-i|
• ^ 00
. a>
f=:2
c3 r^ *~ ■^
*3 — '
G^ B,
■*^>tl.i2
S tM
.o=!l
-e-o ^ .
= u >4
-J2;1^2
p.£
-So
fc, o .
c3 •
B .--H
_- >>.a •■« .
wan:
bur
sutt
ter
Sep
t4
. 3
lis
"O
s
s
P4
s
1^
«
1 ..!w:m
,
,
73 ^ O O
t-*
"= "S
•a
00
.-. O „ .ta
s
c3
P.
c5
:S'-'
J2
>.3
u^>.bi
t.
^JSSKX
.33
JO
"wot.
o|1>
— 1<-t^
. O '
» 2*0 o o
+i 2 &a 2
I— P.S SS®
m '
eS c3
6
■g§
o
a.
.a>
c
<;
^ 1
OJ
f|
— ^ E
>
•-^
S c
..*
0.3
^H
o
U rH
c3_
t4
o ?o
o
^o
>IS
H
><>i
3 S
O 0^
a a
>^>x
OO
S§
i-H .u
P-.t>
b IS
6>
11
>i5X—
t?a
"^1
<
s
.«■«
>
S =^
o
o
^
Q
a
a 5*
_ = -°
5-.
>
"is
A
""
o S
■S
is
a3P
l—l T-H
<
^
i:;
2
"S.a
.3
5
<-£
a
1
tM O
t*
°^
o
>.
i--^
a
'S ^
5
-5
«r—
^
d
o o
o
^
sit .«
«
o
>'"
^^ 1
>■
11
11
S a
^
^
o —
a
T* -=
St
t^CQ 1
a-S
S.a . 1
^ 33
RS
a 6^
3
— CO
|w
2
5ph"
^ 9
r ^;:;rt^<;
£^
5 >5 S ^ "g.
c3 ®-v4
7" t-?!-^
I— R c-^it
a a.=;t!
arlow:
t Coll,
ec. 10,
ie;bur,
11. Ch.
2,1707,
5.-0^ St"^
5 J3
0 r«
pS
0
■a
c3
N
w
.. • . « 7._
0 ^ r' •— •"" ^ ^* ^
a
« a c3 . — .5 t, .«
a
2 c% ~ -S. >
3
.fc^aQ-^t-.^^,— w 1
a — !»< sj]73«.a a 1
<
t. i
_c5_0
^"2
-73 c3
wa
§■=5-
.• • •-«« M
•==«'£■§
-go-^a""
ii 0 ^ 0 _•
■3 rr; » ti —
a ,^ » >< » .-
g^^"-^
r*-
1
lies
low;
'. at
.Ch.
eli),
18.
Sfes=Sj5
^a-^a-^
«-i ,• • -in
0 *■ J3 -*i-
■ SO'^i
3-= . «
o3 . — „ a
'^ '■'o-' m
c3 : cS.
II
& = '-
rt^ p.
b-.a"
.S o 2 S
..I- o £
o * — jn
*j X a 3 t<
.3-3 o a 0"
5f s~ ...a
^ t. 0 55 2
S"
5 «
SE:?3
^i
tK-a --
— .2^_^S
3«.9o
O =5 E
- . >t^
;■" Or-
is M .
'O Ago
296 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
The earliest Population Returns for Chorlton-cum-Hardy are in
the year 1 714, at which time the township contained 65 families,
or about 325 individuals ; of these families 14 were dissenters. In
1774 no great increase in the numbers had taken place ; the houses
comprehended in the same limits were but 71, and these were
tenanted by 75 families, or 878 individuals ; of whom one hundred
and forty-seven were under the age of 15; sixty-nine above 50;
seventeen above 60; ten above 70, and two above 80. In 1801
the inhabitants numbered 513; in 1811, 619; in 1821, 624; in
1831, 668; in 1841, 632; and in 1851, 761. From a stray leaf
of the transcript of the Chapel Registers deposited in the Diocesan
Registry at Chester it appears that the number of baptisms
solemnized at Chorlton Chapel in 1639 was eleven. In 1655, 42
persons were rated to the relief of the poor within the township,
including Mr. Barlow of Barlow £2 8s. 4d. ; John Barlow, James
Chorleton, Mr. INIoseley of Birch House, Henry Rigbie, &c. The
aggregate rate paid is not given. In 1854 the number of rate-
payers in the township was 139, and the total amount of rate
collected was J303 17s. 9d.
In 1692 the annual value of real property in Chorlton-cum-
Hardy, as assessed to the land-tax, was ^£236 15s.; in 1815, as
assessed to the county-rate, £2,941; in 1829, £4,314; in 1841,
£4,579; and in 1853, £4,241. The returns for the latter year
were, however, subjected to a deduction not previously made of
one-twelfth from lands and one-sixth from buildings.
Chorlton contained, in 1854, twenty-seven county voters. There
were in the same year three public-houses and three beerhouses.
It has no colliery, railway or canal ; no mill or manufactory of any
description, being almost entirely agricultural.
The area of the township, as given by Rickman in the Popula-
tion Returns of 1831, is 1,400 acres; Messrs. Johnson and Son
estimate it at 1,249 acres ; the Tithe Commissioners, in the Census
Returns of 1851, at 1,265 acres; and the Ordnance Survey at
1,279a. 2r. 35p.
In 1845 there were twenty-three landowners in the township.
CHAPEL OF CIIORLTON. 297
Of these the chief were Wilbraham Egerton Esq., who owned
887a. 2r. 12p. and George Lloyde Esq. 231a. Ir. ISp. Assuming
the area of the township to he 1,210 acres, it was thus divided : — •
Arable land, 490 acres ; meadow and pasture, 680 acres ; wood,
10 acres; roads, &c., 30 acres.
Chorlton-cum-Iiardy is in the Poor-law Union of Chorlton, and
is one of the twelve townships composing that union, — Ardwick,
Burnage, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Didsbury,
Gorton, Hulrae, Levenshulme, Moss-side, Openshaw, Rusholme
and Withington. The workhouse is situated locally in the last-
named township, and has been recently erected. It is surrounded
by a sufficient quantity of land to afford a labour-test to which to
subject the applicants for relief. The extent of land originally
purchased was 24a. Ir. 15p., to which 35a. Ir. 27p. have since been
added at a cost of £7,929. The cost of the workhouse itself,
including that of the land originally purchased and exclusive of the
fittings, was £34,927 16s. 4d. The fittings, including steam,
water and gas provision, filtering apparatus, lavatories, &c.,
£3,555 8s. Id. ; architect's commission, salary of clerk of the
works, &c., £2,903 Os. 2d. The entire cost, exclusive of the second
purchase of land, being £45,519 lis. Id. The total population of
the Chorlton union is 130,000, and the house is calculated to
accommodate 1,576 inmates.
In its ecclesiastical relations, Chorlton was tributary to Man-
chester, lying within the limits of that parish, and paying tithe to
the Warden and Fellows as rectors thereof.
In the reign of EHzabeth, Alexander Barlow Esq. farmed the
tithes of Chorlton, and was in 1566 plaintiff in a suit at Lancaster,
in which Thomas Herle, Warden of Manchester was defendant,
this being one of the many actions entered against him for his
mismanagement of the estates of the church over which he
presided, and for his injustice towards the parties with whom he
entered into contracts.
In 1701 the tithes of the township were leased by the Warden
and Fellows, but the name of the lessee is not given; and as
Q Q
298 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
Stretford and Trafford are united with it in the return, no
inference can be drawn as to what proportion of the £65 Is. 4d.,
the rent paid, was due from Chorlton. In addition to this, Mr.
Barlow paid £19 as lessee of the tithes chargeable on his own
demesne of Barlow. In 1848 the rent-charge of the township
payable in lieu of tithes was £173 17s. 6d., exclusive of £9 Os. 6d.
claimed by the impropriator (the Rev. R. M. Fielden.)
The original chapel at Chorlton was erected in the early part of
the reign of Henry VIII. about the year 1513. It was a quaint-
looking structure in that picturesque, half-timbered style so
common amongst the domestic buildings of the period, though
rarely adopted in those of an ecclesiastical character. The details
were for the most part marked by extreme simplicity, and in form
and general external appearance it bore a striking resemblance to
the ancient chapel at Denton erected about the same period, and
still in existence. The plan was rectangular, with a chancel at the
eastern end. The basement, to the height of about eighteen inches
above the ground, was of solid masonry, and on this rested the
principal timbers of the building, connected by horizontal beams,
and strengthened by diagonal bracing ribs. The roof was rather
acute in pitch, and with a view of affording greater protection from
the elements, the eaves were extended some distance beyond the
outer surface of the walls. The several gables were protected by
barge-boards, and, as was customary in this style, were erxh sur-
mounted at the apex by a hip-knob. The windows were plain,
square-headed and placed at irregular intervals along the side, a
three-light window of similar character lighting the eastern gable
of the chancel. The main entrance was by an arched doorway at
the western end of the south side, and over it and against the wall
was placed a sun-dial. A small bell-cot surmounted the western
gable. In 1779 the old chapel was taken down, and the follow-
ing year a plain unsightly structure of brick was erected in its
stead. This building being fovmd inadequate to the wants of the
people, was in 1837 enlarged by the addition of north and south
aisles, by which two hundred additional sittings were gained. It
CHAPEL OF CUORLTON. 299
calls for no particular notice. As already stated, it is of brick,
without any pretensions to architectural excellence. Like the
older edifice which it superseded, it is rectangular in form, lighted
on either side by three circular-headed windows, a small brick
tower flanking the western gable, the lower stage of which consti-
tutes the main entrance to the chapel.
Of the early founder we can but conjecture, having no certain
knowledge ; and it is no slight discouragement to the investigator
into its past annals that not a single document or memorandum
relating either to the chapel itself or to its ministers has survived,
the registers of baptisms, marriages and burials alone remaining
in the hands of the rector, and of these some of the volumes are
lost, the earliest still deposited in the chapelry-chest commencing
as recently as the year 1737. We shall not perhaps assume more
than the facts of the case -will justify if we ascribe its foundation
to the family of Barlow, which was the great and almost only
family of influence in the township.
It its earlier years it would be associated with the services of
the Roman Catholic religion, shortly afterwards yielding to the
new state of things introduced by the Reformation. It would
lapse again into Popery under Queen Mary, and would finally
be restored to Protestantism under Elizabeth, its founders mean-
while continuing steadfast in their adherence to the ancient and
unre formed faith.
In the first year of the reign of Queen ]\Iary (1553) ChoUerton
Chapel within Manchester parish is named in a commission issued
from the Duchy Court of Lancaster, addressed in the Queen's
name to Sir Richard Sherburne Knt. This commission recites a
former enactment of the 7 Edward VI., the object of which was to
enquire, search and survey what lands, tenements, bells, chalices,
plate, jewels, stocks of kine, sheep, money and other things
belonging to chantries in the county of Lancaster ought to have
come to the said king by the force of the act of parliament in that
case made and provided ; and then proceeds to say that divers
bells, &c, in several parishes (and amongst others in Manchester
300 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
parish that of Chollertou Chapel is uamed) had not come into
his hands by virtue of such former commission, the parishioners
still retaining the same. The design, therefore, of her majesty's
present commission was to direct enquiry to be made what bells,
&c. so remained in the parishioners' hands according to an inven-
tory with such commission. 1
In 1573, in common with the other chapels in Manchester
parish, Chorlton Chapel was included in certain injunctions given
to the Master or Warden of the Collegiate Church by the Arch-
bishop of York and other the Queen's Majesty's commissioners
"about residence of the Warden and Fellows, and diligent and
constant preaching every Sunday in the church of Manchester or
in one of the chapels."^
No district was at any time formally assigned to Chorlton
Chapel; and as one of the four chapels within the manor of
Withington (the others being those of Didsbury, Birch and
Denton) its utility was probably limited to the township in which
it was situated, unless indeed in early times it shared with Dids-
bury the inhabitants of Birch before the erection of a chapel in
that immediate neighbourhood.
Thus erected, an endowment, always scanty, was provided,
consisting of certain sums given for the support of a resident
minister, the money to be lent out at interest, and the proceeds to
be applied for the minister's maintenance. In 1650 this fund, or
church-stock as it was called, amounted to £69; it belonged
jointly to the chapel and a schoolmaster. Mr. Benson the curate
had "received some allowance from the sequestrations, but that
had ceased although he was compliant with the demands of the
ruling powers. "3
From a return made to the Bishop of Chester (Gastrell) in 1704
the annual income of the curate was £1 15s., being the interest
of money left. There was more, but j£80 was lost by a tradesman
in Manchester, to whom it had been lent.
' Ducatus Lancastria, vol. ii. p. 138. " Ilolliiigworth's Mancuniensis, pp. 82, 83.
3 Lansdowne MSS. 459, fo. 5.
CUAPEL OF CHORLTON. 801
lu 1717 the Rev. Joseph Dale was curate of Chorlton ; he stated
that the inhabitants contributed £10 a year towards his main-
tenance.
In 1723 the chapel was augmented with the sum of £200.
In 1835 the annual value was returned at £103, arising from
£400 private benefactions and dP600 derived from the governors
of Queen Anne's Bounty. These amounts have been invested in
the purchase of land, and in 1855 the sources of income of the
chapel were returned as follows : — A farm situated at Bramhall in
the county of Chester, value £60 per annum j another farm in
Northen Etchells in the same county, value £32 per annum,
together with the two sums £200 and £600 in the funds (three
per cent) held by the governors of Queen Anne's Bounty for the
benefit of the Incumbent.
The chapel is dedicated to St. Clement, and is in the gift of the
Dean and Chapter of Manchester, whose predecessors appear to
have exercised an undisputed right of patronage. It was returned
in 1850 as a District Chapelry under 59 George III. c. 134, the
chapel containing 521 sittings, 200 of which were free. In
1673 two Wardens were chosen who served for the two hamlets,
namely Chorlton and Hardy within the manor of Withington.
Schools in connexion with the chapel were originally erected in
1817, by voluntary contributions, on a site subsequently conveyed
in 1843 by George Lloyd Esq. of Stockton Hall near York, toge-
ther with a cottage for the teacher's residence and a garden
annexed. These schools were taken down in 18^5, and new and
more commodious premises erected by the Rev. W. Birley, the
incumbent, aided by two grants of £150 from the Committee of
Council on Education, and £75 from the National Society. They
are in the Tudor style of Gothic architecture, built of brick with
mullions and dressings of stone. Over the centre doorway is the
inscription, " St. Clement's Sunday and Day Schools, erected by
private subscription a.d. 1817; rebuilt a.d. 1845."
A small chapel was opened by the Wesleyans in 1805, but in
1826, being found to be too small to accommodate the congrega-
302 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
tion, it was resolved to rebuild it on the same site, whicli was
accordingly done at a cost of .€689. Its chief promoters were a
family named Brundrett. The site (540 square yards) was given
by Mr. Jeremiah Brundrett. The chapel is of brick, and is 36 feet
by 30 feet. It contains 274 sittings, 100 of which are free.
The names of the earlier ministers who officiated at Chorlton
have been irrecoverably lost. We find no allusion to any of them
of a date earlier than 1598. In the Visitation returns of that year
(September 13) the chapel is thus referred to : — " Chowlerton
Chapel, no curate but a reader who keepeth a school." At the
Visitation of 1604 the Lector or Reader at Cholreton Chapel,
Roger Worthington by name, was reported to the Bishop for
letting out money on usury. On being summoned to appear he
confessed "that he lent out iiij^' after ijs in y*^ pound and not
above." He was enjoined to pay to y^ poor mans box at Cholreton
ijs and to refraine hereafter. Sir Nicholas INIosley Knt., who
died in 1612, left the sum of £100 to be paid in annual instal-
ments of £5 to a schoolmaster who should teach school at
Chollerton Chapel, the said schoolmaster "to reade praire three
tymes evie week in the said chapell." On the 7th of July 1617
John Dickenson was licensed as Reader and Schoolmaster of
Chorlton. Thus the earlier ministers of the chapel, as far as can
now be ascertained, were not from the ranks of the regularly
ordained clergy, but men of inferior position and education, who
united in their individual persons the office of Reader in the
chapel and Schoolmaster of the village, the endowment being too
scanty (if indeed any existed at all) to provide for the wants of a
resident curate duly qualified. In 1636 the Rev. John Bradshaw
was curate of Chorlton, where he remained until 1639, being
appointed in that year to succeed the Rev. John Davenport at
Didsbury Chapel. He died in 1645, and was buried at Didsbury.
On the resignation of Mr. Bradshaw in 1639 the Rev. John Pollett
was nominated to the chapel, and signs in that year the transci ipts
of the registers annually sent to the Episcopal Registry at Chester.
It was during Mr. Pollett's incumbency at Chorlton that the
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 303
Presbyterian form of church government was established by law,
and commended to general observance. Mr. Pollctt refusing to
accommodate his teaching to the new order of things, was
"teazed, harassed and at length (in 1647) dispossessed" by the
Second Lancashire Classis.^ The specific charges brought against
him were that he maintained episcopacy, and defended tlie use of
the surplice and Book of Common Prayer. A Mr. John Pollctt
was curate of Prestwich from 1640 to 1647, but the cures lie too
wide asunder to render it probable that the same person is
intended ; doubtless there were two of the same name. In 1658
a Mr. Pollitt was "minister of God's word" at Milnrow in the
parish of Rochdale.
On the dismissal of Mr. Pollett, the Rev. Richard Benson was
appointed curate. Scarcely had he entered on his duties when he
found himself at variance with the elders of his congregation, and
on January 6, 1647-48, Mr. Benson summoned them before the
classis on a charge of using "railing words." The following
depositions were taken : — John Hoult saith hee was in y^ lower
end of y^ chapel and cannot speak anything materiall to y® ques-
tions propounded. John Warburton saith y* there was some
rayling words betwixt Mr. Benson and y^ elders at Chollerton, but
hee went forth of y^ chappell and remembereth not y® words.
George Jackson saith hee knoweth not of any rayling words Mr.
Benson gave to y^ elders. Nathaniel Taylor saith that ]Mr. Benson
having read a note in Chorlton Chappell, James Chorltou said he
lyed, and then he heard ]Mr. Benson say to James Chorlton that
hee was a dishonest man. James Chorlton, when called upon to
answer the allegations, acknowledged that he had wronged Mr.
Benson, "giving him y® lye as y^ said Mr. Benson was in y''
pulpit i" and expressed his regret for what he had done ; this he
was ordered to do by the classis. Mr. Benson held the curacy of
Chorlton until his death, which occurred in 1651. He is described
by the Parliamentary Commission of 1650 as " a painfull godly
preaching minister.''^ He was buried (May 27) at Stretford.
' Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, pp. 40 and 421.
- Lansdowue MSS. 459, fo. 5.
304 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
His successor, the Rev. Jolin Adcroft, was curate of Stretford
Chapel, which he had held for about two years before his removal
to Chorlton, and during that brief space seems to have given
offence to the classis by his disregard of their authority. In
November 1649 a summons was issued to compel his presence at
the next classical meeting, and in the following January Mr.
Hollingworth is " desired to confer with Mr. Odcroft y^ preacher
at Stretford." On the 13th of May 1651, Evan Clarke is requested
to go to Mr. Adcroft, and to tell him that the class expects his
attendance the second Tuesday in June next, and also to speak to
Mr. Benson to see what he can say concerning the course Mr.
Adcroft holds in making clandestine weddings, baptizing children,
and concerning his life and conversation. At the following clas-
sical meeting, June 10, Evan Clarke brought Mr. Adcroft's answer
in writing ; its consideration was deferred until the next meeting.
At the next meeting, July 8, Mr. Warden was desired to request
the assistance of some justice of the peace in relation to ordinance
of parliament concerning Mr. Adcroffs contempt of the class. It
was also then agreed that warrants be sent forth to desire some
witnesses to come before the class to testify what they can con-
cerning ]Mr. Adcroft. The further consideration of the matter at
the next meeting, August 12, Avas postponed in consequence of the
inability of Mr. Warden to be present ; from which time there is
no further allusion to his imputed delinquency, and Mr. Adcroft is
removed from Stretford to Chorlton. His residence at Chorlton
seems to have continued for about three years, and to have termi-
nated in 1654. The next minister in succession was Mr. James
Jackson B.A., who immediately followed Mr. Adcroft. For
upwards of a year he officiated as curate, though unordained, and
it was not till July 5, 1655, that he received orders, which were
conferred at Chorlton Chapel. Mr. Rathband of Prestwich preached
on the occasion; Mr. Meeke of Salford gave the exhortation ; Mr.
Constantine of Oldham and Mr. Seddon prayed. Mr. Jackson
continued to fill the cure till starved into a relinquishment of it by
the want of liberality on the part of his hearers. The classis.
CHAPEL OF CMORLTON. 305
unwilliug to accept his resigaatioUj appointed February 23, 1657-8
for the consideration of his case. The result of their deliberations
is thus recorded : — " Mr. Jackson, minister of Chorlton, being
upon some motions for his removal from that place in respect of
the shortness of his maintenance, which was manifest to the class.
But several of the people appearing and declaring the good success
Mr. Jackson (through God's blessing) hath had in his ministry
since his coming thither, and that the people was generally
inclined to an earnest desire of his continuance, the class appointed
several ministers to go to the said people of Chorlton to endeavour
to accommodate the business so that Mr. Jackson might be conti-
nued amongst them. The day appointed was March 31, in the
afternoon about two of the clock. Mr. Harrison was desired to
preach a sermon to the people upon the meeting ; Mr. Heyrick,
Mr. Angier and Mr. Newcome were desired to meet Mr. Har-
rison there for the end aforesaid. On the 13th of April 1658,
Mr. Harrison and INIr. Newcome gave an account of the meeting
at Chorlton according to the order of the last class ; and the result
of it was that agreement was made between Mr. Jackson and the
people there that Mr. Jackson should continue there for one year
more, and that the people should engage to make up the augmen-
tation of £35 per annum £50, for the which addition Joshua
Taylor, Jonathan Gee, James Parkinson, Henry Mason, John
Harrison and Richard Barlow did engage themselves at the said
meeting; as also to use their utmost endeavour to procure what
was in arrear by virtue of former covenants to the aforesaid Mr.
Jackson ; as also to do what they could for a further addition of
£5 more to the foresaid £50 for the present year; and that in
case the £15 was not paid according to this agreement that then
Mr. Jackson should be free to remove by consent of the people at
the year's end, upon the classis hearing and judging of such
default by them made, — which agreement was approved by the
present classe.i It is presumed the inhabitants fulfilled their
1 Account of the Proceedings of the First Presbyterian Classis ; a MS. in the
Chetham Library, Manchester.
R R
30(3 A lilSTOKY OF THE ANCIENT
pledge since Mr. Jackson was still resident amongst them in
October 1662, and yet later. Certain entries, already alluded to,
in the Didsbury Registers, relating to the interment of Mary and
Ellen, daughters of the Rev. James Jackson, minister, in the years
1658 and 1666 respectively, lend some slight countenance to the
supposition that he was curate also of Didsbury at the same time,
but this is mere conjecture. In 1672 one Mr. Richardson, who
" preached the sermon at six o'clock on the Lord's day morning
at Manchester,'' was officiating at Chorlton. He was, says
Calamy,^ "a competent scholar and a pious man. He preached
by virtue of a license in 1672 at Chorlton, and was very laborious
in his Master's work ; he died in 1680." The next minister whose
name occurs is the Rev. Joshua Hyde. He was exercising the
office of Reader or Curate at Chorlton in the year 1691, combining
with it probably that of schoolmaster since he was at that time, if
not wholly unordained, at least only in deacon's orders. In May
1691 he was nominated by Sir John Egerton on the recommenda-
tion of the Warden of Manchester, to the curacy of Denton, vacant
by the resignation of the Rev. Roger Dale, a request being made
at the same time to the Bishop that he would ordain Mr. Hyde,
to which he consented. For the next twenty-five years there is a
chasm in the list of curates, of which the only explanation that
can be offered is that of Warden Wroe, who writing in 1707, and
alluding to the chapels of Chorlton and Stretford, speaks of them
as having no settled curates for want of endowment. Next follows
the Rev. John Thomas B.A. of Brazenose College, Oxford. He
was nominated to Chorlton June 26, 1716, by the Warden and
Fellows of Manchester, his nomination being signed by the Rev.
Richard Wroe, Warden, Roger Bolton and Robert Assheton,
Fellows. Mr. Thomas was a native of Chester, and was ordained
to Chorlton. In the following year the Rev. Joseph Dale was
curate. He held also the neighbouring chapel of Birch. He stated
that the inhabitants of Chorlton contributed but £10 a year to his
maintenance. Again occurs a break in the chain of succession,
1 Abridgment, vol. ii. p. 99.
CHAPEL OK C!110RLT0N. 307
aud in 1754 the Kev. Robert Oldfield is found discharging the
office of curate, and signing in that capacity the transcript of the
registers forwarded to Chester. He filled also the office of
Librarian at the Chetham Hospital in Manchester from 1726 to
1732, and retiring from Chorlton in 1766 was succeeded by the
Rev. Richard Assheton M.A. one of the Fellows of Manchester,
whose nomination bears date September 13, and is signed by
himself as proxy for the Warden, and by the Revs. John Clayton,
Thomas Aynscough and Maurice Griffith, Fellows. From the
terms of the nomination itself it is to be inferred that Mr. Asshe-
ton's predecessor at Chorlton was the Rev. Thomas Beeley, who
resigned the chapel, but as the document is endorsed "The
Warden and Fellows^ nomination of the Rev. Richard Assheton,
one of the Fellows to Chorlton Chapel, vacant by the resignation
of Robert Oldfield, late Curate," we are left in doubt. Mr.
Assheton retired from the curacy in 1771, and was followed by
the Rev. John Salter. His nomination is signed by Samuel
Peploe, Warden, John Clayton, Thomas Aynscough, Richard
Assheton and Maurice Griffith, Fellows. Mr. Salter died at
Chorlton in 1789, and was succeeded by the Rev. Joshua Brookes
M.A. of Brazenose College, Oxford. Mr. Brookes was of humble
parentage, being the son of a shoemaker at Cheadle Hulme near
Stockport, and was baptized at Stockport May 19, 1754. His
father, Thomas Brookes, was a cripple of uncouth mien, eccentric
manners and great violence of temper ; and it is supposed that the
possession of these attributes had gained for him the sobriquet of
Pontius Pilate. A story has survived, exhibiting in a striking
point of view the impetuosity of his temper. Sitting at his door,
as was his habit in his later years, the strangeness of his appear-
ance (one invariable article of dress being a red night-cap)
attracted the notice of a market-woman who chanced to pass that
way, and who in passing addressed to him some rude remark.
Eager for revenge and yet unable to follow her by reason of his
lameness, he despatched his servant for a sedan-chair, wherein he
was conveyed to the market-place, and having singlorl ont the
308 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
object of his indignation, proceeded to belabour her with his
crutch with such hearty good- will that a constable's interference
was needed to restore peace. He removed his residence from
Cheadle Hulme to Manchester whilst Joshua was yet a child, and
rented a room at a place called Sot's Hole, behind Ridgefield,
whence afterwards he changed to a similar apartment over a gate-
way in Deansgate, near the Three Arrows Inn, and finally rented
a house in a passage in Long Millgate, opposite the residence of
Mr. Lawson, at that time High Master of the Grammar School.
At the Manchester school Joshua received his education, and
being a boy of quick parts was much noticed by the Rev. Thomas
Aynscough, one of the Fellows of the Collegiate Church, by whose
assistance and that of others of his fellow-townsmen his father was
enabled to send him to Oxford, where in due course he graduated
(M.A. 1771). In 1782 he was ordained to the stipendiary curacy
of Chorlton by Letters Dimissory to the Bishop of Lichfield. His
examination for orders was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Hind, Yicar
of Rochdale, who under the date October 20, 1782, thus addresses
the Bishop of Chester : —
My Lord, — On Thursday last I received the honour of your
commands, and yesterday I saw Mr. Brooks. On my examination
of him I found that he had not read the books required by your
lordship. I asked him some questions, to which his answers were
pertinent, and you m ill see by the enclosed that his translations
are tolerable, and truly his own; but as he had not prepared him-
self agreeably to your printed directions (for which he pleaded his
ignorance of those directions till very lately) and begged his
examination might be considered as in part adjourned to the last
moment of time that was left to him before the ordination, I
readily complied with his request, and am to see him again.
The examination-paper alluded to is Grotius De Veritate, Book
2, Sect. vi. In 1783 he was admitted to Priest's Orders by the
Bishop of Chester. On the 10th of August 1789 he was nominated
by the Warden and Fellows to the perpetual curacy of Chorlton,
vacant bv the death of the Rev. John Salter, his nomination being
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 309
signed by Richard Assbetou, Warden, Thomas Aynscough,
Maurice Griffith and James Bayley, Fellows. He resigned Chorl-
ton December 23, 1790, on being appointed to a chaplaincy in the
Collegiate Church, and dying in November 1821, was buried
(November 11) within the Collegiate Church. Much of the
father's mental constitution was inherited by the son, in whom
however the force of education tended to keep such eccentricities
and sudden outbursts of temper in partial check. Many anecdotes
are related of his peculiarities, which in him passed almost
unnoticed. Whilst reading the burial service he would not
unfrequently leave the grave-side, and proceed to the shop of a
confectioner in Half-street, overlooking the church-yard, and
having procured a supply of horehound drops, would return to his
neglected duties, and conclude the service. Another story, too
irreverent to be more than alluded to, having reference to a cer-
tain interpolation of the burial service, furnished the subject of
a caricature, which obtained considerable currency ; but this
exceeding the fair limits of satire entailed a prosecution upon its
author, and a pecuniary fine.
He was at one time an assistant master of the Grammar School.
He died unmarried.
On the 17th January 1791 the Rev. Nicholas Mosley Cheek
was nominated by the Warden and Fellows to Chorlton Chapel,
vacant by the resignation of the Rev. Joshua Brookes. His
nomination was signed by Richard Assheton, Warden, T. Ayns-
cough, Maurice Griffith and James Bayley, Fellows. In 1796 he
appointed the Rev. Roger Mashiter Stipendiary Curate, and in
1801 the Rev. Samuel Stephenson M.A., each of them receiving
an annual stipend of £40. He died in 1805.
Mr. Cheek's successor was the Rev. George Hutchinson M.A.,
who was nominated by the W^arden and Fellows October 30, 1805,
the nomination being signed by Thomas Blackburn, John Griffith
and C. W. Ethelston. The Rev. Samuel Stephenson continued
there as stipendiary curate, and in 1807 George Holt, a literate
person, was ordained as his successor, being himself followed in
310 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
1812 by the Uev. John Collins. In 1816, Mr. Hutchinson having
resigned, the Rev. Richard Hutchins Whitelock M.A. Vicar of
SkilHngton in the county of Lincohi and Stipendiary Curate of
St. Mark's, Cheetham, was nominated by the Warden and Fellows
to Chorlton, to which he was licensed January 5, 1816. His
nomination was signed by Thomas Blackburn, Warden, John
Gathff and C. W. Ethelston, Fellows. Mr. Whitelock added to
his other preferments the somewhat incongruous office of post-
master of Manchester. He died August 14, 1833. On the death
of Mr. Whitelock the Rev. Peter Hordern M.A., son of the Rev.
Joseph Hordern, formerly Curate of Prestwich and subsequently
Incumbent of Shaw, was preferred to the vacant chapel, his
nomination being signed by C. D. Wray, Vice- Warden, Oswald
Sergeant and Richard Parkinson, Fellows. He was of Brazenose
College, Oxford, and was appointed to an exhibition there on the
Hulme foundation in 1820. In 1821 he received the appointment
of Librarian at the Chetham Hospital, Manchester, which he held
till 1834. He died March 28, 1836. The next Incumbent in
succession was the Rev. John Morton B.D., whose nomination
bears date April 12, 1836, and is signed by T. Calvert, Warden,
J. Gatliff, C. D. Wray, Oswald Sergeant and Richard Parkinson,
Fellows. Dr. Morton died December 27, 1842, and was succeeded
by the Rev. William Birley M.A., the present Incumbent, the date
of whose nomination under the hand of the Dean and Chapter is
February 17, 1843.
The following is a list of the Curates of Chorlton Chapel as far
as their names can now be recovered : —
1598 No Curate but a Reader.
1604 Roger Worthington, Reader.
1617 John Dickenson, Reader.
1636, 1689 John Bradshaw.
1639-1647 John Pollett.
1647-1651 Richard Benson.
1651-1654 John Adcroft.
1654, 1666 James Jackson.
CHAPEL OF CIIORLTON. 311
1672, — Richardson.
-1691 Joshua Hyde.
1716- John Thomas.
1717, Joseph Dale.
1754, 1766 Robert Oldfield.
1766-1771 Richard Assheton.
1771-1789 John Salter.
1789-1790 Joshua Brookes.
1790-1805 Nicholas Mosley Cheek.
1805-1816 George Hutchinson.
1816-1833 Richard Hutchins Whitelock.
1833-1836 Peter Hordern.
1836-1842 John Morton.
1842- William Birley.
In 1644, upon the Presbyterian form of church government being
established throughout England by ordinance of Parliament, lay
elders were chosen by each congregation to assist the minister in
the discharge of his function. The duties incident to the office
of elder trenching considerably on those of the more formally or-
dained minister it was necessary that the choice to be exercised at
such elections should be made with becoming caution.
For Chorlton Chapel one James Parkinson was chosen ruling
elder, against whom, in February 1646, certain exceptions were
tendered before the First Lancashire Classis by Nathaniel Taylor.
His accusation, with proof, was ordered to be taken at the next
meeting of the classis, which accordingly was done March 16,
1646-7.
Accusation against James Parkinson, presented by Nathaniel
Taylor.
1, That hee is guilty of fornication ; to ground w^^i is produced
ye register of Ashton-under-line, Mr. Stirrups hand, of a
daughter genita ante nuptias, also a sonne borne within
twenty seven weeks after marriage. Thus far y^ register.
William Thomas saith that he caryed monye for James Par-
312 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
kinson 8* 8*^ to the commissioners, but knows not for
what.
2. To the accusation of slander, Will, Hurbboat saith that
James Parkinson said (coming by some work), This work
stands in much money, but it is no matter if ould Mr.
Brion were living, that hee (meaning S' W"i Brereton)
might rob him againe as he hath done here at y^ choosing
of knights for the shire.
Another time at goeinge for New England, Richard Taylor
witnesseth the same thing.
3. To the accusation of swearing, Thomas Blomiley saith he
heard him swear and curse above two years.
Nathaniel Taylor saith he heard him swear by his faith not
within a year.
4. To the accusation of voilence, James Charlton saith he cast a
pot and a fflagon at the face of another man (within a
year), the said Thomas Parkinson being first called a
knave.
Thomas Blomiley saith he struck his daughter.
5. To the accusation of undue election, Mr. Benson and Na-
thaniel Taylor objected.
It was ordered by the classis that Parkinson bring his witnesses
at their next meeting.
On the 14th April, 1647, James Parkinson produced witnesses
for his defence.
George Scoales saith y* he knoweth not y* ever y^ said Parkinson
had any child by the said woman (whereof he is accused before
marriage) ; that she lived neere to him afterwards.
James Parkinson confesseth y* y^ child was borne upon New
Yeares Daye about eight weeks before time.
James Chorlton and John Barlow, elders of Chorlton, next de-
puted by y« classis to examine Ellen Hurbboate (not able to come
to y« classis) concerning a second born to the s'^ Parkinson upon
ye gd New Yeares Day ; that it was borne without haire or nayles ;
that shee considered it was borne before time.
CHAPEL OF CHORLTON. 313
Jane Jones exed, saith that sbee saw y'^ s^^ child withiu a day y*
it was borne, and y* it was very weak, could not suck of about
eight weeks, and she believeth y* it was borne about eight weeks
before time.
IVilliam Arstall (to y'' matter of slander) saithe that bee was
present when y® s*^ Parkinson spoke some words concerning S""
AV™ Brereton, w^h ^ere tbeese : That S'' W™ Brereton could not
have all, for (if it were true y* Grantham said) one trunk was
gone to New England, another was gone to y« Shortinge [?] ; that
one of y® witnesses y* went to complain to S'' W™ Brereton was in
drink when he went.
Margery Knight ex^ ag" James Parkinson, saith y* the said
woman w*^ wh. y® said Parkinson was accused (whose name was
Joane Jones) was mother of this exaiat, and at nineteen years of
this examinate age told her y* y® said Parkinson had held her
hands behind her and had abused her ; that shee very often com-
plained of this Parkinson for the s'l fact ; that y« s'l Parkinson's
father reported her to bee with child presently after.
On the 12th of May, to which day the further consideration of
the case had been adjourned, James Parkinson produced another
witness in his defence.
Ralph Barlow of Asbton de jNIersy Bank, examined, saith that
Joane Warburton, afterwards Joane Jones, was a light woman of
lier love both before marriage, in that state, and in her widow-
hood ; that some discourse passing (during the time of her widow-
hood) betwixt ye said widow Jones and y® said James Parkinson,
being desired by y® said Parkinson, this examinant was present,
when ye said widow Jones denyed y* ever she reported of y® said
James Parkinson evell behind his back; that y® said Parkinson
desired he might have her good report and she should have his.
The defence being now brought to a close, the question was put
upon the proof of such part of the several charges against James
Parkinson as is made already, whether the said James Parkinson
is to be judged fit in point of qualification, according to the ordi-
s s
314 A HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT
nauce, to be a ruling member at Chorlton. Resolved iu tlie
negative.
On the 8th of March 1647-8, Samuel Taylor brought an appeal
from the eldership of ChoUerton to the classis iu a difference
between him and his brother Nathaniel Taylor, accusing the said
Nathaniel of having wrongfully slandered him. It was ordered
that the said Nathaniel be summoned to appear at the next meet-
ins: of the classis, and that the said Samuel have warrant for
witnesses.
On the 5th of April 1648, the business of Samuel Taylor was
investigated, who being plaintiff against his brother Nathaniel
Taylor, brought witness as follows : —
James Chorlton, elder at ChoUerton, aged about 50 years,
deposed saith : — That Nathaniel Taylor said before y^ jury at
ChoUerton that Samuel Taylor his brother was a foresworn man;
and j^ at another time as hee was coming to Manchester hee y®
said Nathaniel sayd in psence of James Hopwood and a shoe-
maker y* his brother Samuel Avas foresworn in three particulars ;
and this deponent does not remember y* hee made any explication
or distinction of his charge of perjury when he first charged him
before y« jury; and y** jury suied him y*' said Nathaniel in a Nolle
for ray ling at y*^ jury; and y^ s^ Nathaniel further said before y^
court that y<^ Devill was as good a professor as his brother Samuel;
and y* he also said y* y^ meeting of Samuel Taylor and his friends
was for bad and base ends, and to conspire against his brother, or
words to y' effect.
Josuah Taylor, of Marsledge, aged about 20 yeares, deposed
saith : — That Nathaniel his uncle hearing some enquiry after
Samuel Taylor this deponents father, y" s.
Bexwyck, Gcottrcy de, 109.
Bibbey, Gilbert, g'ent., 267.
Bibby, Jeremiah, 83
Bibbv, John, 17'^.
Bibby, Thomas, -235, 236.
Bibio, Air. Simon, 260, 262.
Birch, Anne, 117-119.
Birch, Colonel, 12.
Birch, George, of Birch, gent., 117, 119,
123, 133.
Birch, James, 12, 34, 58, 144, 270.
Birch, John, 58, 83.
Birch, Lea, 175.
Birch, Matthew de, 8, 199.
Birch, Mr., of Birch, 39.
Birch, Richard, 127.
Birch, Thomas, 12, 81, 82, 117-119.
Birch, JNIr. Thomas, of Birch, 175.
Birch, Thomas, Esq., 86.
Bircli, William, 81, 83, 116, 175.
Birch, Mv. W., 30, 128, 175.
Birch, Widow, 174, 207.
Birche, George, 207.
Birchis, JNIatthew de, 319.
Birley, Mr. Herbert, 52, 86.
Birley, Hugh, 99.
Birlev, Hugh, jun., 21.
Birley, Joseph, 10, 14, 21, 85, 99, 128.
Birley, ]\Irs., 52.
Birley, Rev. William, 301, 310, 311 .
Biron, John de, 173.
Biron, Richard de, 319.
Bishop, Thomas, 118.
Blackburne, Anna, 120.
Blackburne, Thomas, Esq., 120.
Blackburn, Rev. Thomas (Warden of
Manchester), 309, 310.
Bland, Ann, 19, 26, 53.
Bland, Lady Ann, 25, 38, 39, 43. 45, 47-
52, 63, 77, 94, 103, 163-165, 167, 172,
188, 318.
Bland, Edward, 26.
Bland, Elizabeth, 26.
Bland, Frances, 26, 76.
Bland, Jane, 26.
Bland, John, 26.
Bland, Sir John, 8, 25, 26, 38, 40, 49, 63,
75, 76, 94, 99, 100, 162-167,
Bland Meriel, 26.
Bland, Mosley, 26, 75.
Blomeley, Adam, 71.
Blomeley, Alice, 71.
Blomeley, Edward, 34, 71.
Blomeley, Ellis, 71.
Blomeley, George, 86.
Blomeley, John, 34.
Blomeley, Katharine, 71.
Blomeley, Richard, 71, 98.
Blomeley, Robert, 83.
Blomeley, Thomas, 12, 69, 71, 82, 83, 96,
97,312.
Blomeley, William, 35, 81, 82.
Boardman, Mr. Alexander, 78, 81, 82.
Boardman, Dorothy, 102.
Boardman, James, 81, 82.
Boardman. John, 82.
Boardman, Joseph, 95.
Boardman, ^Martha, 78, 80.
Boardman, Alary, 78.
Boardman, Mr., 80.
Boardman, Sergeant, 102, 188.
Bolton, Mr., of Manchester, 41, 46.
Bolton, Rev. Roger, 61, 62, 61, 306.
Bolton, Thomas, 206.
Booth, Dorothv, 4.
Booth, John, 69.
Booth, Mary, 73,
Booth, Richard, gent., 69.
Booth, Sir William, knt., 4.
Booth, Sir William, of Dunham Massev,
231.
Borron, James, 14.
Borron, Thomas, 14.
Bostock, John, trustees of, 233.
Bothelton, William de, 244.
Boulton, Rev. Jlr., 92.
Bowden, William, 86,
Bowerhouse, Alexander, 232.
Bowerhouse, Ralph, 232.
Bowker, James, 231.
Brabery, Hortredus de, 319.
Bracebrigg, Sir Geoffrey de, Knt., 247.
Bracken, Dr., 287.
Bradburn, James, 86.
Bradshaw, Elizabeth, 220.
Bradshaw, Rev. John, 55, 64, 302, 310.
Bradshaw, John. 5, 127.
Bradshaw, John, Esq., 86, 117.
Bradshaw, Margaret, 5.
Bradshaw, Rev. Mr., 55, 73, 87.
Bradshaw, jM'''% 87.
Bradshaw, Richard, of Pennington, Esq.,
220.
Bradshaw, Samuel, 316.
Bradshaw, Thomas de. 111.
Bradshaw, Widow, 127.
Bradshaw, William, 234.
Breckell, Thomas, 82.
Bredall, Charles, 289, 290.
Bredall, Klizabcth, 2S9, 290.
Bredall, Francis. 289, 290.
324
INDEX.
Bredall, Thomas, 28.9, 290.
Brereton, Dorothy, 206.
Breretoii, Frances, 281.
Brereton, Mary, 254, 264.
Brereton, Sir Urian, 254, 264.
Brereton, Urian, 209.
Brereton, William, of Honford, Esq.,
209.
Brereton, William, of Ashley, Esq., 281.
Brereton, Sir William, 147, 312, 313.
Briarley, Thomas, gent., 28, 79, 95.
Briddon, INIr. Abram, 237.
Briddon, Mr., 236.
Bridgewater, Dr., his Concertatio, 253.
Brierley, Ann, 79.
Brierley, Robert, 79.
Brion, JNIr., 312.
Broke, Sir James, chaplain, 206.
Brome, Henry, 231.
Brooke, Elizabeth, 144.
Brooke, George, 36, 270.
Brooke, John, 145.
Brooke, Rev. Mr., 96.
Brooke, Robert, 33, 80, 141, 144.
Brooke, Thomas, 36.
Brookes, Benjamin, 84.
Brookes, John, 81.
Brookes, Rev. Joshua, 307, 309, 311,
Brookes, Thomas, 307.
Brooks, Samuel, Esq., 123, 129.
Broome, Ann, 75, 79.
Broome, Elizabeth, 29, 79.
Broome, Frances, 77.
Broome, Hannah, 76.
Broome, James, 29, 80.
Broome, John, 29, 80.
Broome, INIary, 29, 79, 104, 105.
Broome, Miss Molly, 79.
Broome, Mr., 39-41, 43-46, 286, 287.
Broome, Richard, 18, 51, 77-79, 100,316.
Broome, Richard, of Manchester, gent.,
78, 79.
Broome, Richard, of Didsburv, gent., 80.
Broome, William, 84, 100, 104, 167.
Broome, William, of Didsbury, gent., 8,
18, 29, 40, 80.
Broome, William, of Didsbury, Esq., 8,
19,29,53. .r. H, ,
Broome, Mr. William, of Chorlton, 75-
78.
Broome, William, the elder, 102, 103.
Brown, Rev. Henry, 63.
Brown, Samuel, 82.
Browne, Stephen, 133, 135.
Brownehill, James, 248.
Brownelawe, Roger, gent., 117-
Bruerton, William, of Honford, Esq.,
207.
Brundreth, John, 83.
Brundrett, Mr. Jeremiah, 302.
Brundrett, Mr. Matthew, 10.
Bull, Joseph, 16, 22, 86.
Burgess, James, 218,
Buri, Adam de, 245.
Burom, Robert de, 243, 245.
Burton, Rev. R. W., 129.
Burun, Geoffrey de, 245.
Burun, John de, 251.
Burun, Robert de, 251.
Burun, Roger de, 245.
Burwell, Nicholas, 159.
Butterworth, Edward, Esq., 86.
Butterworth, Samuel, 83.
Byrch, James, 35.
Byrch, Richard, 35.
Byrch, William, 35.
Byrche, Anne, 120.
Byrche, George, 120.
Byrkis, Matthew de, 121.
Byrom, Richard de, 246.
Byruu, John de, 199.
Burnage, township of, 172-176; its area,
172; derivation of name, 172; its
early proprietors, 172-174; popula-
tion returns, 174; valuation of town-
ship, 174; its more recent proprietors,
175; its ecclesiastical relations, 175.
Cadewell, Thomas, 216.
Caistor, William, Esq., 175.
Calvert, Rev. T., Warden of Manchester,
310.
Cambridge, St. John's College, Bishop
Barlow's bequest to, 259.
Cambridge, Trinity Hall, Bishop Bar-
low's bequest to, 260, 261.
Carlton, James, 194.
Cattelow, Robert de, chaplain, 249, 251 .
Cave, Thomas Browne, Esq., 175.
Cellanova, abbot and monks of, 271.
Chadderton, Mr. Robert, 198.
Chadertou, Geoffrey de, 247.
Chadwick, Joseph, 85.
Challoner, Dr., his Missionary Priests,
253, 271.
Charlton, James, 312.
Chatbourn, Mrs., 77.
Chatbourn, Valentine, 77.
Chattertou, Katharine, 144.
Chatterton, Robert, 180.
Cheek, Rev. Nicholas Mosley, 309, 311.
Cheatham, John, 82, 83.
INDEX.
325
Chcetham, Samuel, 83.
Chereleton, Gospatric de, 244.
Cherletona, Gospatric de, 245.
Chester, bishop of (Gastrell), 62.
Chester, bishop of (Law), 190.
Chester, bishop of (Wilkins), 88.
Chetliam, Geoffrey de, 108, 109,249,251.
Chetham, Henry de, 243, 244.
Chethani, II. de, 319.
Chetham, Humphrey, Esq., 147-149,
152-157.
Chetham, James of Turton, Esq., 218.
ChoUerton, William de, 251.
Chollerton, Richard de, 121, 249, 251.
Choreton, Adam de, 243.
Choreton, Gospatric de, 243.
Chorleton, Edward, 12,34-36,38,58, 127,
141, 14-1.
Chorleton, George, 34, 36-38.
Chorleton, James, 296, 303, 314, 315.
Chorleton, John, clerk, 70.
Chorleton, INIary, 229.
Chorleton, Mr.,' 133.
Chorleton, Richard, 38, 58, 81, 141, 248.
Chorleton, Robert, 229.
Chorleton, William, 35.
Chorley, Richard, 284.
Chorlton, Adam, de, 114, 244.
Chorlton, Alexander, 71.
Chorlton, Cecily, 144.
Chorlton, Edmund, 58, 80.
Chorlton, Gospatric de, 114, 243.
Chorlton, John, 81-83, 186.
Chorlton, Nicholas, 81, 82.
Chorlton, Samuel, 82.
Chorlton, Thomas, 76, 83, 96, 101, 188.
Chorlton, Thomas de, 244.
Chorlton-cum-Hardy, township of, 239-
318; its etymology, 241; early his-
tory of township, 242; early pro-
prietors, 243-249; Barlow family,
249-295; population returns, 296;
valuation of township, 296; poor-law
union, 297; ecclesiastical relations of
Chorlton, 297; chapel erected, 298;
structure described, 298; endowment
of chapel, 300; curates of Chorlton
chapel, 302-311; contentions of the
lay-elders of Chorlton in Common-
wealth times, 311-316; charities,
316-318.
Clarke, Evan, 304.
Clayton, James, 207.
Clayton, Rev. John, 307.
Clayton, Mary, 73.
Clayton, Rev. Mr., 92.
Clayton, Rev. Thomas, 55, 57-59, 64, 73.
Cleton, Mr., 87.
Cloth workers, Company of, 138, 140.
Clough, Mr. James, of Manchester, 79.
Cobden, John, 260, 261.
Coke, Clement, 210.
Coke, Sir Edward, 92, 200, 210.
Coke, Sarah, 210.
Coke, Thomas William, Esq., 210.
Cokersand, abbot of, 107, 243.
Collayn, Robert, 250, 252.
Collier, George, Warden of Manchester,
188.
Collier, Rev. JNIr., 94.
Collier, Mr., 235.
Collier, Mr. Thomas, 189.
Collins, Rev. John, 310.
Comberlache, Elizabeth, 55.
Comelach, Richard, 141.
Constantine, Mr., of Oldham, 304.
Cooke, Rev. James, 190.
Cooper, John, 4.
Coppocke, John, 231, 234.
Coppocke, Margaret, 231.
Corbet, Sir Vincent, 147.
Codes, Nat , 165.
Cosin, Dr., Dean of Arches, 254, 255.
Coston, Thomas, 233.
Cotterell, William, 81.
Couksone, Matthew, 210.
Cox, James, 78.
Cox, Mr. James, 78.
Criche, Richard, 159.
Croft, Richard de, 319.
Crompton, Jordan de, 248.
Crowder, Laurence, 140, 141, 144, 234.
Crowder, Richard, 159.
Croydon Hospital, Bishop Barlow's be-
quest to, 263.
Cudworth, Alice, 143.
Cudworth, Ralph, gent., 117.
Culcheth, Biron, 5.
Culcheth, John, 284.
Cunlifte, Nicholas, Esq., 86.
Cunliffe, Robert, gent., 86.
Curwen, Robert, gent., 86.
Cutler, Mrs. Mary, 72.
Dacre, Lord, 180.
Dakin, Mr., 182.
Dale, Rev. Joseph, 301, 306, 311.
Dale, Rev. Mr., 41, 43, 44.
Dale, Rev. Roger, 306.
Darbey, Rev. John, 190.
D'Arci, Sir Robert, 210.
Darwell, James, Esq., 53.
326
INDEX.
Darwell, Thomas, Esq., 53, 63, 95.
Dauntesey, William, of Agecroft, Esq.,
269.
Davenport, Ann, 72.
Davenport, Humphrey, Esq., 143.
Davenport, James, 83.
Davenport, Rev. John, 35, 54, 55, 64, 72,
302.
Davenport, Katharine, 72.
Davenport, Robert, 72.
Davenport, Thomas, 72.
Davenport, Sir William, 54.
Davie, William, 35, 36.
Davison, John, Esq., 26.
Davison, Thomas, 26, 166.
Dawson, Rev. David, 61, 64, 95.
Dawson, Elizabeth, 8.
Dawson, Capt. James, 8.
Dawson, Margaret, 219.
Deane, Peter; 210.
De la Wane, Joane, 173.
De la Warre, John, 173.
De la Warre, Thomas, 189, 248, 250.
Derby, Edward Stanley, Earl of, 253,
293.
Derby, William, Earl of, 135.
Dethick, Humphrey, Esq., 112.
Deyncourt, Alice, 110.
Deyncourt, Sir Roger, Knt., 110.
Dickens, Rev. Mr., 91, 92.
Dickenson, John, lector of Chorlton Cha-
pel, 302, 310.
Dickinson, Mary, 235.
Diddesbur', William de, 121.
Didsbury, Township of, 1-106; its area,
1 ; etymology of, 2 ; local families,
2-9; its more recent proprietors, 9;
population returns, 11; valuation of
township, 12; roads in township, 12;
chapel erected, 13; made parochial,
13 ; and rebuilt, 14 ; description of
chapel, 14-18; abstracts of faculties
relatingto chapel, 18-22; monuments,
inscriptions, &c., 22-29 ; develop-
ment of the parochial system in
Didsbury, 29-33 ; endowment of
chapel, 33-52; patronage, in whom
vested, 52; curates of chapel, 53-64;
extracts from chapel registers, 64-80;
list of chapehvardens, 80-86 ; ex-
tracts from ehapelwardens' accounts,
86-96; school erected in Didsbury,
96-99; charities, 99-106.
Didsbury, Adam de, 121.
Didsbury, Alexander de, 121.
Didsbury, James, 9, 83.
Didsbury, John, 9, SI.
Didsbury, Robert, 175.
Didsbviry school, 10.
Didsbury, William de, 249, 251.
Dixon, Rev. Joshua, 218.
Dodding, George, 186.
Dokinfield, llamnet de, 198.
Doly, William, 121.
Dorriugton, James, 86, 99.
Dowars, M"^ Penelope, 73.
Downes, John, 70.
Downes, Roger, of Wardlev, Esq., 269.
Doyle, W., 319.
Duckenfeild, jNIr., 207.
Duckenfield, Aniie, 123.
Duckenfield, William, 180.
Duddell, Alice, 182.
Duddell, Roger, 182, 248.
Dugdale, Sir William, Norroy King of
Ai-ms, 232.
Dukinfield, John, Esq., 203.
Dukinficld, Luev, 203.
Duncuft, John, 201.
Dunes, Robert, 319.
Dyer, Mr. J. C, 184.
Egerton, Jane, 220.
Egerton, Sir John, 93, 306.
Egerton, Peter, Esq., 86, 269.
Egei'ton, Samuel, of Tatton, Esq., 288,
290, 291.
Egerton, Wilbraham, Esq., 10, 14, 52,
128, 129, 175, 182, 186, 188, 191, 192,
193, 297.
Egerton, William Tatton, Esq., M.P.,
123,181,291.
Elcock, Anthony, 71, 72.
Elcock, Anthony, clerk, 184.
Elcock, Francis,' 71, 137.
Elcock, John, 180.
Elcocke, Alexander, gent., 130, 137, 140.
Ellison, Rev. Mr., Rector of Ashton-
upon-Mersey, 76.
Entwisell, Alexander, 121, 248.
Entwisell, Edmund, 120, 248.
Entwisell, Elias, 248.
Ethelston, Rev. C. W., 309, 310.
Fallowfield, Alexander de. 124.
Fallowfield, John de, 124. '
Fallowfield, Jordan de, 124.
Fallowfield, Thomas de, 124.
Fallowfield, William de, 124.
Faulkner, Widow, 159.
Fazakei-ley, Nicholas, 48, 50.
Feild, Mrs. Alice, 259,
INDEX.
327
Fell, Thomas, Esq., 8().
Fendown, William, 2SS.
Fenwick, William, Esq., 100.
Ferrars, Robert do. Earl of Derby, 2,
lOS.
Ferrers, Isabel, 112.
Ferrers, Sir Thomas, Kiit., 112.
Fielden, Ann, 27.
Fielden, Oswald, 10.5.
Fielden, Robert, Esq., 13, 14, 27, 84, 8.5,
96, 99, 100, 104, 105, 175, 176, 317,
318.
Fielden, Rev. Robert Mosley, 8, 10, 30,
96, 99, 123, 129, 298, 319.
Fielden, Sarah, 105.
Fildes, Thomas, 84.
Fishmongers, the Worshipful Company
of, 258, 259, 262, 263.
Fitton, Hugh, 319.
Fitzherbert, Sir Anthony, 112.
Fitzherbert, Dorothy, 112.
Fletcher, Abraham, 215.
Fletcher, Edmund, 81.
Fletcher, George, 81, 82, 144, 186.
Fletcher, John, 84, 144.
Fletcher, Peter, 81.
Fletcher, Ralph, 215.
Fletcher, Richard, SI, 82.
Fletcher, Thomas, 81, 174, 215, 235.
Foiles, Thomas, 84.
Forth, Henry, 128.
Fox, Rev. William, 201.
Foxe, Richard, 5.
France, .John, 78.
France, ^Ir. Robert, 78.
Frankland John, 165.
Furnace, Thomas Tobie, 56.
Fyton, Thomas, 116.
Gardner, James, 84.
Garnett, Thomas, 81, 82, 95.
Garnett, William, 81, 8.3, 99, 144, 165.
Garside, Robert, 83.
GatliflF, Rev. James, 190.
GatlifF, Rev. John, 63, 64, 191, 310.
Gee, Jonathan, 81, 305.
Gee, Nathaniel, 316.
Gee, Robert, 140.
Gerard, Sir Gilbert, Knt., ISO, 181.
Gerard, Gilbert, 246.
Gerard, Radclifife, 181.
Gerard, Thomas, 181.
Gerrard, I\Ir. Felix, 143.
Gerrard, Lord, 135.
Gerrard, Mr. Richard, parson of Stock-
port, 143.
Gerrard, Mr. Wm, clerk of the Duchv,
143. ^
Gibbon, William, 144.
Gilbert, .r
Walmisley, Anne, 144. g^jt^ )^^*>^^
Walmsley, John, 79.
Walton, Michael, 289, 290, 291.
Warburton, Joane, 313.
Warburton, John, 303.
Ward, Richard, gent., 73.
Wardle, Alexander, gent., 117.
Warren, Sir Edward, 4.
Warren, Edward, 267.
Warren, Joan, 110.
Warren, John, of Poynton, Esq., 282.
Warren, Lawrence, Esq., 4.
Warren, IMargaret, 4.
Watson, Joseph, 82.
Watson, William, 83, 103.
Watt, Joshua, 83.
Webb, Mary, 2!S9, 290.
Webster, George, 85.
Wesley, Rev. John, 194.
Wesleyan College at Didsbui-y, 10.
West, Reginald, Lord de la Warrs, 111.
West, Richard, Lord de la Warre, 110.
West, Thomas, Lord do la Warre, 3,
118,246,247.
West, William, Lord de la Warre, 122,
182.
Whitbroke, Tlugh, of Bridgenorth,gent.,
131.
Whitbroke, Margaret, 24, 131.
Whitgift, Archbishop, 255, 263.
Whitmore, Anne, 142.
Whitmore, William, Esq., 71, 134, 142,
146.
White-hall in Didsbury, 9, 137, 138, 319.
Whiteleg, William, 35.
Wliitelegsr, (ieorge, 82.
Whitelegg, Thomas, 12, S3, 94.
Whitelegge, Mai-y, 86.
Whitelock, Rev. "Richard llutchins, 310,
311.
Whyatt, Richard, 83.
Wighull, John, 252.
Wilde, .James, Esq., 236, 238.
Williamson, Thomas, 58, 184.
Williamson, William, 187.
Willimot, Mr., 93.
Wilson, Thomas, 207.
Wilson, William, 90.
Wilson, Rev. William Muuday, 193.
Wilton, the Earl of, 201.
Withington, township of, 107-171; de-
rivation of name, 107; extent of
manor, 107; local famihes, 107-125;
charities, 126; population returns,
126; valuation of township, 127; its
area, 127; its ecclesiastical relations,
127; family of Mosley, 129-171.
Withington, George, Esq., 10, 21.
Withington, Mr. 52.
Withington, Walcot de, 320.
Withington, Utred de, 320.
Withinton, Ingrith de, 320.
Withinton, Odo de, 320.
Withinton, William, son of Wulfrith de,
114, 243.
Withinton, Wulfrith de, 114, 243.
Wood, Alexander, 35, 36, 81, 82.
Wood, Ann, 70.
Wood, John, 8.5, 175.
Wood, Nathaniel, 35.
Wood, Nicholas, 58, 81.
Wood, Thomas, 13, 30, 35, 70, 73, 81, 82,
84.
Wood, William, 5, 12, 14, 35, 83, 207.
Woodroff, John, gent., 119.
Woods, Ralph, 6.
Woodward, William, Esq., 194.
Woolmer, Rev. Edward, 56.
Woolmer, Edward, of FHxton, clerk, 228.
Workeslegh, Richard de, 251.
Workesley, Arthur, 179.
Worrall, JSliss, 288.
Worrel, M"^ of Wilmslow, 75.
Worsley, Adam, 179.
Worsley, Arthur, 179.
Worsley, Capt. Charles, 73.
Worsley, Charles Carill, Esq., 123, 234,
235.
Worsley, Clemence, 204.
Worsley, Edward, 39, 42, 43,81, 127.
INDEX.
337
Woi'sley, James, '^o.
Worsley, Rev. Mr., 00.
Worslev, :Mr., of the Boothes, 207.
Worsley, Ralph, S2, 83.
Worsley, Ralph, Esq., 117.
Worsley, Robert, Esq., 17J), 204.
Worsley, Thomas Carill, Esq., 128, 129,
233.
Worsley e, Mr., 88.
Worthingtou, Dr., 272.
Worthington, M"', 76'.
Worthington, Mr. Thomas, 10.
Worthington, Roger, Lector of Chorlton
Chapel, 302, 310.
Wray, Rev. C. D., 310
Wright, Edmund, 129, 175, 182-184.
Wright, Rev. Thomas, 38, 40, 42, 45, 47,
62, 64, 76.
Wright, Thomas, 76.
Wright, William, 76.
Wriglev, Rev. Mr., 90,
Wroe, Warden, 50, 61, 306.
Wyrkesworthe, Nicholas de, clerk, 124.
AVythingtou, Thomas de, 114.
Wythinton, Richard de, 114.
Wythyngton, Alice de, 114.
Wythjmton, John de, 114.
Wyvell, Mr. Christopher, Chancellor of
Lincoln, 261.
Yannes, Rev. Mr., 6, 90, 91.
Yannis, Alice, of Croraptou, 78.
Yanuis, Samuel, of Didsbury, gent., 6.
Yate, Chancellor, 227.
Jfints.
Charles Simms and Co., Printers, Maucliester.
[ 339 ]
INDEX OF PLACES
NAMED IN
BOOKEK'S HISTORY OF DIDSBURY AND CHORLTON.
VOL. XLII.
Agecrofte (Egecroft), 210, 227, 269.
Aldenidnus (? Aldwinshaw), 203.
Alder's Fender, 12.
Aldewynghowe, 204.
Alport, 7 ; Lodge, 147 ; Park, 133.
Ancoats, 26, 137, 141, 142, 158, 160, 162,
163.
Arden, 242.
Ardwick, 110, 244, 297.
Ashley, 281.
Asliton-under-Lyne, 6, 199, 204, 217, 232.
311.
Ashton-upon Mersey (Ashton-de-Mersey
Bank), 76, 313.
Ashtou-liurst, 242.
Ash worth, 213.
Atcham, 94.
Bagulev, 54, 230, 231, 288.
Bamford, 115, 118, 120.
Hall, 119.
Bank Hamlet, 183.
Hall, 176.
Barcicrot't (Bassy-croft, Barscrofte), 13,
134, 173.
Barlow, 53, 74, 136, 206, 249 seq., 254,
268, 282, 285, 287 seq., 293, 296, 298.
Chapel, 17.
Estate, 253j 291.
Hall, 108, 248, 272, 288.
Manor of, 284.
Moor, 4, 33, 2Q.
Moor Lane, 13.
School, 31.
Barlow's Gate. 12.
Barton, 115, 173.
Barton-upon-Irwell, 53, 232.
Beswick, 243.
Birch, 30, 32, 39, 40, 42, 63, 72, 76, 77.
117, 119, 300.
Birchall houses, 134.
Birch Chapel, 31.
Hall, 8, 123.
House, 296.
Blackbrook, 177, 183, 242.
Blackburn, 55.
Blackley, 31, 110, 234, 249.
Blackrod, 177.
Blackstakes, 242,
Blackiston, 26, 166.
Bolton, 120, 248.
Bolton Wood G-ate Lane, 12.
Boothes, 204, 207.
Bower-house, 183.
Braddiley, The, 12.
Bramhall, 54, 197, 301.
Breadsall Park or Priory, 162.
Bredbury, 77.
Breightmet, 218.
Bridgcnorth, 131, 133, 134, 136.
Brinksway, 196.
Brinnington, Township of, ISO, 19S.
Britanny, Little, 272.
" Broad Oak," 8.
Broadstone Hall, 225.
Bugden (Ihickden), 255, 263.
Bumage (Browneggc, Brownage, Brown-
edge, Broinwich, Bromage), 1, 13, 30.
seq., 35, 58, 101 seq., 107, 13-t, 172
seq., 184, 230, 297-
Burton Lane, 32.
Bury, 115, 119, 163, 218.
340
INDEX TO BOOKER S HISTORY
Buttler's Lane, 247.
Buxton, 185, 235.
Cambridge Trinity Hall, 255, 260, 261.
Canal ; Ashton, Manchester, and Oldham,
185, 200.
Car Brow Lane, 12.
Castle Meadow, 198.
Chadderton, 206.
Cheadle (Chedle), 159, 164, 209, 210.
Bridge, 12, 90.
Hulme, 307, 308.
Mosley, 162.
Cheetham (Chetliam, Chetham Hill), 135,
207, 243.
Cheetwood, 135.
Chester, 14, 21, 39, 181, 184, 190, 206.
207, 214, 216, 223, 225, 227, 228, 232,
264, 269, 291, 296, 302, 306, 307.
Cliiselbotham, 203.
Chorlton township (Charlton, Charleton,
Cherlton, Chereleton, Chorleton,
Chourlton, Chourton, Cbowerton,
Chowreton, Chorllerton, Chollerton,
Cholreton, Chowlerton), 241 seq.
(Chorleton, Chollerton), 4, 8. 9. 17,
31, 32, 53, 60, 72 seq., 103, 104, 107,
108, 126, 129, 134, 141, 158, 162.
Chapel, Chowlerton, Cholreton,
Chollerton Chapel), 81, 44, 132, 134,
165, 296, 300, 302 seq., 307, 309, 311,
316, 318.
Church, 41.
Chorlton-cum-Hardy, 1, 33, 101,107, 242,
247, 296.
Chorlton-upon-Medlock (Chorlton-row or
roe), 241, 247, 297.
Clayton (Cleyton, Cleaton), 110, 152, 154,
155, 200.
Hall, 14, 149, 156.
Clegg, 264.
Clifton, 206.
Coddington, 54.
Cokersand, 243.
CoUyliurst, 156, 159.
Cornbrook, 242.
Crabb Croft's Gate, 12.
Craven, 266.
Cringlebrook, 121.
Crompton, 78, 232.
Crumpsall, 204.
Culcheth, 232.
Davybulme, 159, 218.
Deansgate, 308.
Denton, 14, 30, 31, 32, 107, 110, 178 seq.,
197, 202, 203, 206, 213, 226, 227, 300,
306.
Collieries, 200.
Denton-with-Haughton, 101.
DerbT, 2, 91.
Diddisford, 1, 4, 9.
Didsbury (Dedisbur,' Didesbur,' Diddes-
bir,' Diddesburie, Diddesberye, Dyddes-
bury, Dyddysburye, Dyddusbiirye,
Duddesbury, Ditesbury, Dadsbury,
Dizbury), 1 seq., 246 seq., 254, 267,
297, 300, 302, 306, 318.
Chapel (Church), 6, 13, 14, 17, 31,
32, 33, 43, 87, 175, 234, 253, 265, 272,
302.
Eea, 9.
Moor (Ditesbery, Dyddesbury
Moor), 3, 4, 6, 179.
Douay, 270, 271, 272.
Downham, 86.
Drakelow, 268.
Droylsden, 232.
Duke's Hill, 12.
Dunham Massey, 231.
Eaton Wood G-reen, 134.
Ecchill, county of Chester, 35.
Eccles, Parish of, 206.
Entwisell, 120, 121,
Manor, 248.
Etchels, 51.
FaUsworth, 232.
Fallowfield (flPallowefielde, &c.), 36, 70,
123 seq., 134, 232.
Farnworth, 213.
Ferrers, Arms of, 293.
Flixton, 51, 52, 173.
Fogg Lane, 13, 32.
Folds, 183.
Ford Bank, 1.
Gatley (Gattley), 86, 88.
Ford, or Ferry, 12, 90.
Gorton, 28, 30, 31, 95, 110, 117 seq., 189,
197, 198, 200, 202, 230 244, 297.
Chapel, 190, 191, 233.
GoushiU, Arms of, 293.
Green End, 172.
GreenhiU, 265.
Green Lowe Marsh, 244.
Grimesbotham, 3, 179.
Grundey Hill, 76, 77, 101.
Guide Bridge, 201.
OF DIDSBURY AND CHORLTON.
341
Haddon, 112.
Haigh, 111.
Hale, 120.
Haiidforth, 206, 207, 209, 264
Hardy (Harday), 53, 242, 249, 266, 301.
Harrington, Arms of, 293.
Harwood, 217.
Haughton, 107.
Heaton (Heyton, Hetton), 8, 77, 78, 173,
177 seq., 188, 189, 195, 213.
Chapel, 185.
Mersey, 31, 183, 193, 194, 196.
Norris (Eaten Norris, Heton Norres,
Heytone Norreys, Heyton Norres), 1,
30 seq., 58, 74, 75, 79, 80, 95, 100 seq.,
108, 109, 130, 135, 138, 139, 141, 158,
162, 163, 165, 172. 176 seq., 192, 195,
197, 199, 200, 202, 204, 213, 217, 230,
232, 234.
Chapel, 31.
Moss, 178.
Over, 204.
Super Faughfield, 204.
Wood, 178, 242.
Green, 36.
Woods. 181.
Heavilev, 196.
Hesketh, 195.
Hethinglegh, 198.
Heyton Strangewishe, 180.
High Legh, 254.
Hindley, 232.
Holdholm broc, 121.
Hollinwood Chapel, 191.
Holt Hall, 114, 117.
Hooton, Arms of, 293.
Horsedge, 232.
Hough, 122, 134, 136, 138, 141.
Hougheud, 26, 36, 39, 45, 58, 70, 74, 75,
97, 129, 130, 131, 134, 147, 149, 151,
158, 167.
Hough End Clough, 112.
Hall, 162.
Houghe, The, 319.
Hulme (Houlme), 25, 26, 75, 76, 96, 123,
136, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 164, 165,
167, 206, 213, 214. 216, 225, 243, 252,
297.
Edgeeroft, 217.
- Hall, 76, 122, 162, 180, 201, 225.
Jsear Stockport, 213, 225.
Hulme' 3 Moor, 217.
Huntwick, 26, 162.
Kersley, 158, 216, 217, 219, 220.
Kilvington, North, 281.
King's Lane, 12.
Kippax Park, 25, 26, 75, 162, 165, 166.
Kirkby Anstey, 162.
Kirkmanshulme, 230.
Knowesley, 266.
Lady Bam, 134, 172.
Lancashire Hill, 185, 195, 196, 202.
Lancaster, 6, 8, 179 seq., 213. 227, 231,
248, 267, 271, 277, 279, 286, 297, 299.
Castle, 278, 284, 288.
Lang-hill, 263.
Lapwing Hall Lane, 32.
Lathom, Arms of, 293.
Levcn, etymolog;\', 230.
Levcnshulme (LyTrensholme, Lewons-
hidme, Lerwoneshulme, Lamsholme,
Leysholme, Lensholme, Lentsholme.
LaTonsholme, Levensholme, Leyvens-
hulme, Leinshulme), 31, 77 seq,, 101,
107, 172, 177, 197, 202, 230 seq., 297.
Lichfield, 14, 250,
Lincoln, 255, 261, 263.
Littleborongti, 232.
Little-heath, 34, 58.
London, 3, 130 seq., 135, 140, 150, 151,
155, 157, 158, 258, 259, 263, 268, 270,
278, 285, 289.
Longford, 2, 109.
Long Millgate, 308.
Longsight Church, 31.
Lowstock, 159.
Lumme, 35.
Lydle Heath, 134.
Lyme, 4.
Lymn, 197.
Man, Isle of. Arms of, 293.
Manchester, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 26,
30, 41, 44, 47, 52, 55, 62, 63, 71 seq.,
78, 79, 88, 89 seq., 95, 102, 106 seq.,
117, 118, 122, 123, 128, 129, 130, 133,
135, 138, 139, 141, 146, 147, 159, 164,
165, 167, 172 seq., 177, 178, 183 seq.,
188 seq., 192, 194, 197 seq., 204, 207,
210, 214, 216 seq., 224 seq., 233 seq.
Chapel, 17.
Church, 14, 29, 30, 32, 268.
Parish, 241 seq., 250, 253, 254, 268,
269, 272, 282, 284 seq., 288, 289, 297,
299, 300, 301, 306 seq., 310, 315.
Marslachc (ledge). 266, 314.
Mauldeth Hall, 183.
Medlock, river, 241.
342
INDEX TO BOOKER S HISTORY
Merebroke, 199.
Mersey, river, 177, 183, 185, 192, 193,
197, 199, 202.
Midclleton, 86, 115, 117, 118, 119, 264.
Middlewich, 147.
Milgate, 34.
Mihigate Lane, 12.
Milnrow, 303.
Molsfrcllacb, 242.
Moor Clougli, 199.
Moreclou, 199.
Morleys, 277.
Mosley Chapel, 17, 22,
Moss Green, 5, 134.
Moss Side, 101, 107, 297.
Muchelditeh, 199.
Myllfeld close, 246.
Nether Knutsford, 197.
Newton, 29, 31, 95, 232.
Nicker Ditch, 197.
Norris Hill, 78, 183.
Northenden (Northen), 1, 33, 71, 251.
Northen Etchells, 301.
Ford, 12.
Oakenbottom. 214.
Ogre (Land so-called), 39, 42.
Oldham, 78, 232, 265, 304.
Openshaw (Openshagh), 110, 242, 297.
Ordsall Hall, 14.
Outwood, 216, 220.
Parr, or Parr's Wood, 9, 52.
Peel, 183.
Pennington (Pinnington). 220, 232.
Peytonyngate, le Pegfenengate, 199.
Piikington, 216.
Piatt, 234.
Hall, 73.
Portwood, 180, 203.
Poynton, 282.
Preestesplatteford, 114.
Prestall Lee, 136.
Preston, 86, 146, 242.
Prestwich parish, 177, 191, 216, 218, 220,
30, 304, 310.
Eadcliffe, 251.
Keddisb, township of (Radish, Radich,
Redich, Rediche, Redych, Redwyche,
Redish, Reddish, Reddishe, Redyche),
31, 32, 122, 177, 179, 180, 189, 197
seq„ 213, 214, 216, 217, 226 seq., 243.
Green, 197.
Reddish Hall, 199, 201, 210, 211.
Manor, 179.
Mill, 199.
Reddishwood, 199.
Reddish Wood, Great, 197.
Reddivall, 232.
Richmond, 10, 14.
Riddings, 231.
Ridgefield, 308.
Ringley Chapel, 215.
Risley, Arms of, 293.
Rivington, 267.
Rochdale, parish of, 119, 303.
Rolleston, 25, 146, 158, 167.
Park, 27.
Rostern Mere, 79.
RoTton, 232.
Rusholme, 4, 31, 73, 101, 107, 116, 117,
120, 123 seq., 134, 172, 230, 297, 314,
315.
Church, 31.
Ryecroft (Hydecroft), 203.
Sale, 249.
Salford, 177, 182, 225, 304.
Salford-cnm-Burghton, 243.
Sandfold, 197.
Sandland, 4.
Saltersgate, 199.
Shaw (Tlie Shawe), 269,^310.
House, 184.
Skilliugton, 310.
Slade HaU, 4, 78, 120, 122.
Sot's Hole, Manchester, 308.
Speke, 177.
Spotland, 115, 119.
Stenner Lane, 12.
Stockport, 1, 4, 75, 78, 79, 130, 177, 180,
185, 186, 195, 196, 201, 202, 227, 235,
307.
Stockport school, 195.
StonicliflPe, 215.
Stretford (Streitford), 6, 31, 95, 134, 182,
242, 243, 298, 303, 304, 306.
Chapel, 61, 304.
Sutton, 416.
Swinton, 114.
Tarlton Bridge, 120.
Tardebigg, 197.
Tame, river, 199, 227.
Tabley, 209.
Tatton, 167,288, 291.
Tatton Park, 291.
Tildesley, 248.
OF DlDSBUllY AND CUORLTON.
343
Timpcrley, 231.
Tiviot Dale cliapel, 194i.
Top-o'th-Hauk, 183.
Trallonl, 73, 122, 182, 188, 242, 241, 282,
27.
As the two first Publications for tlie last year are continuations of works
referred to in previous reports, and have now been for sonic months in the
hands of the Members, the Council deem it the less necessary to advert to
them in any lengthened notice.
The first, which forms Volume XL. of the series of the Society's Publi-
cations, is Vol. II. Part I. of Dr. Byrom's Journal and Remains, edited
by the Rev. Dr. Parkinson, and extends from March 1736 to July 1742,
when Byrom obtained the act of parliament for securing to him the copy-
right of his System of Shorthand. In point of amusement and historical
and biographical value the present portion of this delightful work will not
be found to yield to the two preceding parts ; and a reference to the Ac-
counts of the Society for the past year will show, what the Members arc
bound most gratefully to acknowledge, that the entire expense of this
volume, like that of its predecessors, has been defrayed by the continued
munificence of Miss Atherton.
Part II. of the Shuitlewortk Accounts, edited by Mr. Harland, consti-
tuting Volume XLI. of the Chetham series, and being the second pub-
lication for tlie last year, concludes the Accounts, and contains two
valuable Appendices, the first giving a copious and very interesting
account of the Shuttleworth family and a detailed description of Gaw-
thorpe, and the second a collection from various authorities of the prices
of lahour, commodities and provisions in England during the period em-
braced by the Shuttleworth Accounts, which forms a very useful addition
and supplement to them. The Appendices are succeeded by a most elabo-
rate series of Notes, alphabetically arranged and referring to every head of
importance dfsclosed in the Accounts, and of which in the present Part the
commencement only, as far as Br, is given. It is however quite sufficient
to show what an extraordinary amount of various information this work will
comprise, when completed, and when only the extent of historical illustra-
tion, which its able and laborious editor will have brought together, can be
fully felt and fairly appreciated. To this part of the Shuttleworth Accounts
a portrait of Lawrence Shuttleworth, the builder of Gawthorpe, from an
original painting now remaining there, is prefixed.
The third volume for the year just completed, and Volume XLII. of the
Chetham Series, is An Historical Accoimt of the Ancient Parochial Chapel
of Didshury and of the Chapel of Chorlton, by the Rev. John Booker.
This is very nearly ready for the binder's hand, and will form a volume of
about 320 pages, with four accompanying engravings, of Didshury Chapel in
1620; Chorlton Chapel, taken down in 177.9; Hough End, the ancient
seat of the Mosleys ; and Reddish Hall, the ancient seat of the Reddish
family. The Council are satisfied that this important addition to Mr.
Booker's previous topographical labours will be received with great pleasure
by the members of the Chetham Society. It is hoped that he will be
induced to continue this valuable series of publications, so as to add the
remaining chapelries in the parish of Manchester to those of Blakeley, Den-
ton, Didshury, and Chorlton, of xvhich he has furnished so accurate and
satisfactory an historical record.
The Publications in progress are —
1. Byroms Journal and Remains, Vol. II. Part 11.
2. Lancashire and Cheshire Wills. Edited by the Rev. G. J. Piccope.
•3. The Shuttleworth Accounts, Part 3. Edited by J. Harland, Esq.
4. Remains of the Rev. John Wilson of Clitheroe. Edited by the Rev.
F. R. Raines, Hon. Canon of Manchester.
.5. A Descriptive Catalogue of the Tracts for and against Popery pub-
lished in the time of James the Second, now in the Chetham Library, incor-
porating the whole of Peck's Catalogue of the T?-acts o?i that Cont7-oversy.
Edited by Thomas Jones, Esq., Librarian to the Chetham Library.
(). WortJiington's Diary and Correspondence, the concludiiiir part of the
second volume.
7. Nathan Walworth's Correspondence with Peter Seddon, of Outwood,
near Manchester, from 1623 to lf).>4. P](litC(l by Robert Scarr Sovvler,
Esq.
8. Heraldic Visitations of Lancashire. Edited by T. Dohnikg Hibbert
Esq.
n. Collectanea Anglo- Poetic a, or Bihliographical Notices of some of the
rarer Poetical Volumes in the Library of a Lancashire Resident.
DR.
ARTHUR HENRY HEYWOOD, Treasurer, in Account with tlie Chetham Society,
From ]st March, 1856, to 2Sth February, 1857.
CK.
L. S. D.
1 Arrear of 1853-1, reported at last Annual
Meeting.
1 Collected 1 0 0
13 Arrears of 185-1-5, reported at last Annual
Meeting.
13 Collected 13 0 0
190 Arrears of 1S55-0, reported at last Annual
Meeting.
188 Collected 183 0 0
2 Outstanding.
7 Subscriptions of 1856-7, accounted for
last year.
276 Collected 276 C C
Now in arrear .
41 Life Members
350
Subscriptions for 1857-S paid in advance.. 10 0 0
Composition for Life Membership 20 0 0
Books supplied to Members 33 6 8
Dividend on £350 7 0 0
Received from Members for Postage of
Books 0 7 6
Interest from the Bank 14 2 1
Miss Atherton, being the cost of vol. 40,
Byrom's Remains, vol. ii. part i 145 15 0
Balance on hand March 1st, 18.56 284 18 2
£993 9 5
Audited by us and found correct.
JOSEPH PEEL.
GEORGE PEEL.
B. DENNLSON NAYLOR.
1856. L. S. D.
Jiar. 31. Hire of Room for Meeting 0 7 6
A2>f- 30. Postages 2 0 0
May 22. Returned to Rev. T. F. Smith, for
subscription paid in error 22
April, 1855 10 0
,, 30. George Simms, for binding, &c ,
vols. 35, 37, 33, and 39 80 17 0
Jinie 16. Charles Simms and Co., for balance
of printing, &c., vol. 39, and sun-
dries 58 8 6
July 31. Ditto, balance of printing vols. 40
and 41, and sundries 171 17 1
„ „ Postages 1 0 II
Aug. 1. Advertising Meeting of 1856 0 7 6
,, 16. George Simms, for binding, &c.,
vols.lOandll 40 0 0
„ 21. Carriage of parcel to Chester o 2 0
Sept. 3. Postages 0 5 0
Oct. 2. Rowley and Brown, for Engraving,
(Sic, vol. 42 15 14 2
Dec. 24. Charles Simms and -Co , on account
of volumes in the press 220 0 o
„ 30. Tyler for Woodcuts, vol. 42 5 16 0
,, 31. Stamps and Postages 0 6 7
1857.
Feb. 27. Advertising Meeting 0 4 6
^598 6 1
Feb. 28. Balance on hand 395 3 4
£993 9 5
ARTHUR H. HEYWOOD, Treasurer.
LIST OF MEMBERS
For the Year 1856 — 1557.
The Membern, to whose names an asterisk is prejijced, have compounded for their Subscriptions.
♦Ackers, James, Prinknash Park, near Gloucester
Agnew, Thomas, Manchester
Ainsworth, Ealph F., ]\I.D., ^Manchester
Ainsworth, W. H., Arundel Terrace, Kemp Town,
Brighton
Alexander, Edward N., F.S.A., Heathfield, Halifax
Allen, Rev. John Taylor, M.A., Stradbroke Vicarage,
SutTolk
Andrews, Thomas, Bolton
Ashton, John, Warrington
Aspland, Alfred, Dukintield
Aspland, Rev. R. B., Dukinfield
AthenJEum, Liverpool
♦Atherton. Miss, Kersall Cell, near Manchester
Atherton, James, Swinton House, near Manchester
Atkin, William, Little Hulton, near Bolton
Atkinson, F. R., Pendleton, near Manchester
Atkinson, William, Ashton Heyes, near Chester
Atthill, Rev. William, Brandeston Hall, Attlebridge,
near Norwich
Avison, Thomas, Liverpool
Ayre, Thomas, Trafford Moss, Manchester
Bagot, Rev. Egerton Arden, M.A., Pype Hayes, near
Birmingham
Baker, Thomas, Manchester
*Balcarres, The Earl of, Haigh Hall, near Wigan
Baldwin, Rev. John, M.A., Dalton, near Ulverstone
Bannerman, John, Wootton Lodge, near Ashbourne
Barbour, Robert, Manchester
Barker, John, Broughton Lodge, Newton, Kendal
Barlow, George, Greenhill, Oldham
Barratt, James, Jun., Lymm Hall, near Warrington
Barrow, Miss, Green Bank, near Manchester
Bartlemore, Mrs., Castlcton Hall, Rochdale
Barton, John, Manchester
Barton, R. W., Springwood, near Manchester
Barton, Samuel, Higher Broughton
Barton, Thomas, Manchester
Beamont, William, Warrington
Beard, Rev. John R., D.D., Stony Knolls, near Man-
chester
Beardoe, James, Manchester
Beever, James F., Manchester
Bell. John Gray, Manchester
Beswieke, Mrs., P3'ke House, Littleborough
Bird, William, Liverpool
Birdsworth, W^illiam Carr, Lytham, Preston
Birley, Hugh, Didsburv, near Manchester
Birley, Rev. J. S., Halliwell Hall, Bolton
Birley, Richard, Manchester
♦Birley, Thomas H., Manchester
Blackburne, John Ireland, Hale, near Warrington
Booker, Rev. John, M.A., F.S.A., Prestwich
Booth, Benjamin W., Swinton, near Manchester
Booth, John, Greenbank, Monton
Booth, William, Manchester
•Botfield, Beriah, Norton Hall, Northamptonshire
Bourne, Coraelius, Stalmine Hall, Poulton, near Preston
Bower, George, London
Bowers, The Very Rev. G. H., Dean of Manchester
Brackenbury, Ralph, Brighton
Bradbury, Charles, Salford
Bradshaigh, W. R. H., Coolree House, near Wexford
Brazenose College, Oxford
Brierley, Rev. James, Mosley Moss Hall, Congleton
Brooke, Edward, Marsden House, Stockport
Brooks, Samuel, Manchester
Brown, Robert, Preston
Bucklev, Edmund, Ardwick, near Manchester
Buckley, Nathaniel, F.L.S., Rochdale
Buckley, Rev. Thomas, M.A., Old Trafford, near Man-
chester
Bunting, Thomas Percival, ^lanchester
Burlington, The Earl of, Holkar Hall
Butterworth, John, Manchester
Canterbury, The Archbishop of
Cassels, Rev. Andrew, Batley Vicarage, near Dewsbury
♦Chadwick, Elias, M.A., Pudlestone Court, Hereford-
shire
Chaffers, Rev. Thomas, Brazenose College, Oxford
Chester, The Bishop of
Chichester, The Bishop of
Chippindall, John, Lancaster
Christie, R. C, M .V , Owen's College, Manchester
Churchill, William, Staly bridge
» Clare, John Leigh, Liverpool
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Clarke, Archibald William, Manchester
Clay, Rev. John, M.A., Preston
Clayton, Japheth, Hermitage, near Holmes Chapel
Clegg, Thomas, Manchester
Clifton, Rev. R. C, M.A , Canon of Manchester
Consterdine, Joseph, Manchester
Cooke, Thomas, Pendlebury, near Manchester
Corser, George, Whitchurch, Shropshire
Corser, Rev. Thomas, M.A., F.S.A., Stand, near Man-
chester
Cottam, S., Manchester
Coulthart, John Ross, Ashton-undcr-L)Tie
Crook, Thomas A., Rochdale
Cross, William Assheton, Red Scar, Preston
Crosse, Thomas Bright, Shaw Hill, near Ghorley
Crossley, George F., Manchester
Crossley, James, F.S.A.. Manchester, President
Crossley, John, M.A., Scaitcliffe House, Todmorden
Currer, Miss Richardson, Eshton Hall, near Gargrave
Daniel, George, Manchester
Darbishire, Samuel D., Pendyffryn, near Conway
Darcey, Rev. John, Swettenham Rectory, Holmes
Chapel
Darwell, James, Beach Priory, Southport
Darwell, Thomas, Manchester
Dawes, Matthew, F.S.A., F.G.S., Westbrook, near
Bolton
Dearden, Miss, 29, Inverness Road, Bayswater
Dearden, James, F.S.A., Upton House, Poole, Dorset
Dearden, Thomas Ferrand, Rochdale
Delaraere, The Lord, Vale Royal, near Northwich
*Derby, The Earl of, Knowsley
Dilke, C. W., London
Durnford, Rev. Richard, M.A., Rectory, ]\[iddieton
Dysoni T. J., Upwood Mount, Cheetham Hill
Earle, Frederic William, Edenhurst, near Huyton
Eccles, Richard, Wigan
Eckersley, Thomas, Wigan
Egerton, Sir Philip de Malpas Grey, Bart., M.P., Oulton
Park, Tarporley
Egerton, Wilbraham, Tatton Park
*Ellesmere, Earl of, Worsley Hall
Ethelston, Rev. Hart, M.A., Cheetham Hill
♦Faulkner, George, Manchester
Feilden, Joseph, Witton, near Blackburn
*Fenton, James, Jun., M.A., Grappenhall Lodge, near
Warrington
Fernley, John, Manchester
•Ffarington, Mrs., Worden Hall, near Chorley
*Fielden, Samuel, Centre Yale, Todmorden
Fielding, Rev. Henry, M.A., Salmonby Rectory, near
Horncastle
Fleming, William, M.D., Hill Top, near Kendal
Fletcher, Samuel, Broomfield, near Manchester
Fletcher, Samuel, Ardwick, near Manchester
Forster, John, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London
*Fort, Richard, Read Hall, Padiham
Ffrance, Mrs, Wilson, RawclifFe Hall, near Garstang
•French, Gilbert J., Bolton
Frere, W. E., Rottingdean, Sussex
Garnett, William James, Quernmore Park, Lancaster
Germon, Rev. Nicholas, M.A., High Master, Free Gram-
mar School, Manchester
Gibb, William, Manchester
'Gladstone, Robert, Oak Hill, near Manchester
Glegg, John Baskerville, Withington Hall, Cheshire
Gould, John, Manchester
♦Grecnall, G., Walton Hall, near Warrington
Hadfield, George, M.P., Manchester
Hailstone, Edward, F.S.A., Horton Hall, Bradford,
Yorkshire
Hall, Henry, Solicitor, Ashton-under-Lyne
Hammid, Miss, Lansdowne Lawn, Cheltenham
Hardman, Henry, Bury, Lancashire
Hardy, William, Duchy Office, London
Hargreaves, George J., Manchester
Harland, John, F.S.A., Manchester
Harrison, William, Brearey, Isle of Man
•Harrison, William, Galligreaves House, near Black-
burn
'Harter, James Collier, Broughton Hall, near Man-
chester
•Harter, William, Hope Hall, near Manchester
Harward, John, Stourbridge
Hatton, James, Richmond House, near Manchester
Hawkins, Edward, F.R S., F.S.A., F.L.S., British Mu-
seum, London
Hayes, Thomas, Manchester
Heelis, Stephen, Manchester
Henderson, Rev. John, Parsonage, Colne
*Henry, W. C, M.D., FE.S., Haffield, near Ledbury
Heron, Rev. George, MA., Carrington, Cheshire
Heywood, Arthur Henry, Manchester, Treasurer
•Hey wood, Sir Benjamin, Bart., Claremont, near Man-
chester
Heywood, James, B.A., F.R.S., F.G.S., Headlands,
near ^Manchester
He}-wood, Thomas, F.S.A., Hope End, Ledbury, Here-
fordshire
Heywood, Thomas, Pendleton, near Manchester
Hibbert, Thomas Doming, Temple, London
Hickson, Charles, Manchester
Hoare, Henry James, The Lodge, Morden, Surrey
Hoare, P. R., Kelsey Park, Beckenham, Kent
Holden, Thomas, Summerfield, Bolton
Holme, Bryan Thomas, New Inn, London
Hornby, Rev. William, St. Michael's, Garstang
Hughes, Thomas, Chester
Hughes, William, Old Trafford, near Manchester
Hull, William Winstanley, Tickwood, near Wellington,
Shropshire
Hulton, Rev. A. H., M.A., Bardsley, near Ashton-under-
Lyne
•Hulton, Rev. C. G , M.A., Emberton, Newport Pagnel,
Bucks
Hulton, H. T., Manchester
Hulton, W. A., Hurst Grange, Preston
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Hume, Rev. A., LL.D., Liverpool
Hunter, Rev. Joseph, F.S.A., London
Jacson, Charles R., Barton Lodge, Preston
Jervis, Thomas B., Swintou Park, Manchester
Johnson, W. R., Tlic Clirt'e, Wyburiibury, Nantwich
Jones, Jos., .Inn., liathcrsliaw Hall, Oldham
Jones, Wm. Roscoe, Athena:um, Liverpool
Jordan, Joseph, Manchester
Kay, Samuel, Manchester
Kennedy, Mrs., Ardwick House, near Manchester
Kershaw, James, M.P., Manchester
Langton, William, Maiichester, Hon. Secretary
Leeds Library
Lees, Rev. William, Tunhridge "Wells
Lcgh, G Cornwall, MP , F.G.S., High Legh, Knutsford
Legh, Rev. Peter, 'Si A., Whitbarrow Lodge, Kendal
•Leigh, Egerton, Jun,, The West Hall, High Leigh,
Knutsford
Leigh, Henry, Patricroft
Leigh, Miss, The Limes, Hale, near "Warrington
Lingard, John R., Stockport
Lingard, Rev. R R., Liverpool
Love, Benjamin, Manchester
Lowndes, Edward C, Preston
♦Loyd, Edward, Combe, Croydon
Lycett, W. E., Manchester
Lyon, Edmund, M D , Manchester
Lyon, George, Manchester
Lyon, Thomas, Appleton Hall, Warrington
McClure, William, Peel Cottage, Eccles
MacKenzie, John Whitefoord, Edinburgh
Macvicar, John, Arddaroch, Gairlochhead
♦Manchester, The Bishop of
Mann, Robert, Manchester
Mare, E. R. Le, Manchester
Markland, J. PL, F.K.S., F.S.A., Bath
Markland, Thomas, Clifton Park, near Bristol
♦Marriott, John, Liverpool
Marsden, G. E., ^Manchester
♦Marsh, John Fitchett, Warrington
Marshall, William, Penwortham Hall, Preston
Marshall, Frederick Earnshaw, Ditto
Marshall, John, Ditto
Mason, Hugh, Groby Lodge, Ashton-under-Lyne
jNIason, Thomas, Copt Hewick, near Kipon
Massie, Rev. E., M.A., Gawsworth Rectory, near Con-
gleton
Master, The "Ven. Archdeacon. M.A., Croston
Maude, Daniel, ^r.A , Scedley Terrace, Pendleton
Mayer, Joseph, F.S A., Lord-street, Liverpool
Mellor, Thomas, ^Manchester
Mewburn, Francis, Darlington
Millar, James. ALanchester
Monk, John, The Temple, London
Moore, John, F.L.S., Cornbrook, near Manchester
•Mosley, Sir Oswald, Bart., Rolleston Hall, Staffordshire
♦Moss, Rev. John James, Otterspool, Liverpool
Moult, William, Parkside, Prescot
Murray, James, Manchester
Naylor, Benjamin Dcnnison, Altrincham
Ncild, Jonathan, Jun., Koclidale
Neild, William, Mayticld, Manchester
Ncwall, Henry, Hare Hill. Littleborough,
New.all, W. S., Ackworth House, Pontefract
♦Newbery, Henry, Jlanchester
Nicholson, James, Thelwall Hall, Warrington
North, Alfred, Liverpool
Ormerod, George, D.C.L., F.R.S., F.S.A., F.G.S., Sed-
bury Park, Gloucestershire
Ormerod, Henry Mere, Manchester
♦Parker, Robert Townley, Cuerden Hall
♦Parkinson, Rev. Richard, D.D.,F.S.A., Canon of Man-
chester, and Principal of St. Bees, Vice-President
Parkinson, Lieut. Colonel, Eppleton Hall, Fence
Houses, Durham
♦Patten, J. Wilson, M.P., Bank Hall, Warrington
Peel, George, Brookfield, Cheadle
Peel, Joseph, Singleton Brook, near Manchester
Peet, Thomas, Manchester
Pegge, John, Newton Heath, near Manchester
Perris, John, Lyceum, Liverpool
Peto, Sir Samuel M., Bart, Somer Leyton Park, near
Lowestoft
Philippi, Frederick Theod., Belfield Hall, near Rochdale
♦Philips, Mark, The Park, Manchester
Piccope, Rev G. J., M.A., Brindle, Chorley
Picton, J. A., Clayton Square, Liverpool
Pierpoint, Benjamin, Warrington
Pilkington, George, Manchester
Porrctt, Bobert, F.R.S., F.S. A., &c.. Tower, London
Prcscott, J. C, Summerville, near Manchester
Radford, Richard, Manchester
Radford, Thomas, M.D., Higher Broughton, near Man-
chester
Raffles, Rev. Thomas, D.D., LL.D., Liverpool
Raines, Rev. F. R., RLA., F.S. A., Milnrow Parsonage,
Rochdale
Reiss, Leopold, Broom House, near Manchester
Renshaw, James, Adelphi, Salford
Richards, Charles H., Manchester
Roberts, W. J., Liverpool
Robinson, Dixon, Clithcroe Castle, Clitheroe
Robson, John, M.D., Warrington
Royds, Albert Hudson, Rochdale
Royle, Alan, Ardwick
Samuels, John, Manchester
Satterfield, Joshua, Alderley Edge
♦Scholes, Thomas Seddon, Leamington
Sharp John, Lancaster
Sharp, 'I'homas B., Manchester
Sharp, William, Linden Hull, Lancaster
Sharp, William, 102, Piccadilly, London
Shaw, George, St. Chad's Upper Mills, Saddleworth
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Shiittlewoith, Sir J. P, Kay, Bart., M.D., Gawthorpe
Hall, Burnley
Simms, Charles S., Manchester
Simms, George, Manchester
Simpson, John Hope, Liverpool
Simpson, Rev. Samuel, M.A., Douglas, Isle of Man
Sion College, The Master of, London
Skaife, John, Blackburn
Skelmersdale, The Lord, Lathom House
Smith, Rev. J. Finch, Aldridge Rectory, near Walsall
Smith, Junius, Strangeways Hall, Manchester
Smith, J. R., Soho Square, London
Smith, J. S. Feredey, Manchester
Sowler, R. S., Mancheser
Sowler, Thomas, Manchester
Spafford, George, Alderley
Spring, Herbert, Manchester
Standish, W. S. C, Duxbury Hall, Chorley
♦Stanley, The Lord, Knowsley
♦Stanley of Alderley. The Lord
Stanley, Walmsley, Bootle Village, Liverpool
♦Starkie, Legendre Nicholas, Huntroyde, Padiham
Sudlow, John, Manchester
Tabley, The Lord de, Tabley House, Cheshire
Tate, Wm. James, Manchester
Tatton, Thos., Withenshaw Hall, Cheshire
•Taylor, James, Todmorden Hall
Taylor, John, Moreton Hall, Whalley
Taylor, Thomas Frederick, Wigan
Teale, Josh., Salford
Thomson, Joseph, Manchester
Thorley, George, Manchester
Threlfall, Richard, Jun., Preston
Tinker, William, London
*Tootal, Edward, The Weaste, Pendleton
Topham, Thomas, Chester
Townend, Thomas, Belmont, Faversham, Kent
Townend, John, Ditto
Turnbull, W, B., D.D., Edinburgh
Turner, Thomas, Manchester
Vaughan, John, Stockport
Vitre, Edward Denis de, M.D., Lancaster
Walker, John, Weaste, near Manchester
*Walker, Samuel, Prospect Hill, Pendleton
Wanklyn, J. B., Halecat. near Kendal
Wanklyn, James H., Manchester
Wanklyn, William, Manchester
VV^arburton, R. E. E., Arley Hall, near North wich
Ward, Edmund, Holly House. Prescot
Ware, Titus Hibbert, Hale Barns, Altrincham
Westhead, Joshua P. B., Lea Castle, Kidderminster
♦Westminster, The ^L1rquis of
Wheeler, Benjamin, Exchange Arcade, Manchester
Whitaker, Rev. Robert Nowell, M.A., Vicar of Whalley
Whitehead, James, M.D., Manchester
Whitelegg, Rev. William, M.A., Hulme, near Manchester
Wilkinson, Eason Matthew, M.D., Manchester
Wilson, Rev. John, M.A., Meysey Hampton Rectory,
Cricklade, Gloucestershire
» Wilton, The E.arl of, Heaton House
Wood, William R., Singleton Lodge, Manchester
Woodhouse, John, Bolton
Worthington, Edward, Manchester
Worthington, Robert, Manchester
Wrav, Rev. Cecil Daniel, M.A., Canon of Manchester
Wright, Rev. Henry, M.A., Mottram St. Andrew's, near
Macclesfield
Wroe, Frederick, Cheethani Hill, near Manchester
Young, Sir Chas. G., Garter King of Arms, London
The Honorary Secretary requests that any change of address may he communicated to him
or to the Treasurer.
THIS BGOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE
STAMPED BELOW
AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS
WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN
THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY
WILL INCREASE TO SO CENTS ON THE FOURTH
'DAY AND TO $t.OO ON THE SEVENTH DAY
OVERDUE.
^p wm.
•CT2 4t970A *
SEP 17 1943
J. t-t-Lf 1 1 CP
^
N\(\R 30 w5.
)
MilP ^ n -ii^hr"- • ■ "
Mlrin O (; Tl>,, \ i\
REC'D IB OCT
8"^^-lPM5S^
M r\i ! On
ivl'V 2f.
SFPlOT-i
^&^MjQrj
7
^J:'\'.' ^
r?'. G!R '"'
OCTi 0 jgan
LD 21-100m-7,'39(402s)
C LIBRARIES
" mil
3Tmi
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
liiiillj li ii
ttiiiiiiiili imiiijiitiiiilJiiilHUiiiMtJHniiiuiiliiiiiiiiJiiliiJi^